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Heads of State Review: Bromance, Bulletproof Banter, and a Summer Blockbuster #movie #review
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Jul 3, 2025
Amazon’s Heads of State delivers exactly what fans of popcorn action flicks crave—explosions, comedy, and an unlikely political duo that bickers its way to survival. With Suicide Squad veterans Idris Elba and John Cena leading the charge, this slick buddy comedy throws diplomacy out the window and dives headfirst into chaos, conspiracies, and kickass action sequences. Directed by Nobody’s Ilya Naishuller, the film is far more entertaining than its premise might suggest on paper. #HeadsofState #movie #review
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0:00
Hey, hey. Welcome back to Screen Time
0:02
Breakdown, your go-to spot for what's
0:04
hot on screen, what's not, and
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everything in between. I'm your host,
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and today we're suiting up, strapping
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in, and diving into Heads of State.
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Amazon's brand new action comedy that's
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basically Air Force One meets The Odd
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Couple with a side of tomatoes. And
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trust me, it's way better than it
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sounds. So, here's the setup. John Cena
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is the president of the United States.
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Idris Elba is the UK Prime Minister. And
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no, you didn't accidentally click on a
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Saturday Night Live skit. This is real
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and it actually works. In Heads of
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State, Cena plays President Will
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Daringer, a swollen, cigar chomping
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former Hollywood action star who somehow
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ended up in the Oval Office. Ilba, he's
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Sam Clark, a seasoned prime minister and
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military vet who's over it all,
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especially Daringer. their bromance,
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let's call it uh aggressively reluctant.
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Tensions boil over at a joint NATO press
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conference where the two are supposed to
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announce a big energy initiative. But
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before you can say international
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embarrassment, Air Force One gets shot
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out of the sky. Yep. Boom. Straight down
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over the Bellarussian woods. Suddenly,
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these two power players are running for
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their lives. No security detail, no
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advisers, just fists, sarcasm, and one
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very intense livestock truck escape.
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Now, let's rewind for a sec. Before all
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this chaos, we open with a banger of an
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action sequence at Spain's iconic
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Tamatina Festival. MI6 agent Noel
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Bisset, played by the ever fierce
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Priyanka Choper Jonas, leading a covert
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strike on a weapons dealer named Victor
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Gradoff. Picture this. gunfire, parkour,
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and enough flying tomatoes to sauce a
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small country. It's chaotic, colorful,
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and a perfect tone setter for what's to
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come. And here's where Heads of State
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really shines in the ridiculous high
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octane bromance between Elba and Cena.
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They fight, they bicker, they bond, and
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yes, they punch their way through
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Bellarus and into Poland. All while
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dodging Gratov's over-the-top goons,
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Sasha and Olga, who are basically Boris
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and Natasha on steroids. Also, shout out
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to Jack Quaid, who shows up midmov as a
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junior agent named Marty Comr and
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absolutely steals the scene. The guy's
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on screen for like five minutes and
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walks away with a postredits gag.
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Respect.
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Now, let's talk direction. The movie
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comes from Nobody director Ilia
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Nishuler, and his fingerprints are all
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over it. Midfight scenes with camera
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angles inside a guy's mouth, smoke bombs
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in the face, goats. Yep, it's all there.
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And somehow it works. The screenplay by
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Harrison Query, Josh Applebomb, and
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Andre Nimik doesn't try to be clever. It
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knows what it is. Fast, funny, and full
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of spectacle. Even when Priyanka's
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character disappears for a bit, they
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bring her back with a cheeky Edgar
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Wright style montage like, "Don't worry,
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here's what you missed."
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Now, real talk. Let's address the
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elephant in the room. Why didn't Heads
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of State hit theaters? You've got Cena,
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WWE legend and Fast and Furious
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favorite. Ilba, TV royalty and perennial
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bond hopeful. Priyanka Chopra, global
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superstar with both Bollywood and
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Hollywood unlock. And still, Amazon sent
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this straight to streaming. No cinematic
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release. Was it the G20 effect? Was it
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studio strategy? Who knows? But this
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movie had every reason to crush it at
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the box office. So, verdict time. Heads
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of State isn't going to change your
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world view. It's not deep. It's not
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subtle, but it is fun, fiery, and
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honestly, freaking perfect for a summer
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movie night. If you're into explosive
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action, sharp oneliners, and seeing
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Idris Elba and John Cena jump out of a
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flaming plane while still throwing shade
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at each other, this one's for you.
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That's a wrap on today's episode of
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Screen Time Breakdown. Hit us up. Did
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Heads of State deliver the thrills you
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wanted? Should Amazon have gambled on a
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theatrical release? And are we ready for
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a sequel? Because yes, the end totally
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teases one. Don't forget to like,
4:20
subscribe, and give us a five-star
4:22
rating if we made you laugh, think, or
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add something new to your watch list.
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Until next time, keep your remotes
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close, your popcorn hot, and your
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expectations just a little unreasonably
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