ⓘ Details

Movie TitleHeads of State

Release DateJuly 2, 2025

TaglineTwo heads are better than one.

Runtime113 minutes

DirectorIlya Naishuller

Screenplay Written ByJosh Appelbaum, André Nemec & Harrison Query

Based OnOriginal screenplay; story by Harrison Query

Is It a Remake?No. Heads of State is an original action-comedy film.

BudgetNot publicly reported by major verified box-office sources

Box OfficeNot applicable; released directly on Prime Video

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👥 Main Cast

Idris ElbaSam Clarke

John CenaWill Derringer

Priyanka Chopra JonasNoel Bisset

Jack QuaidMarty Comer

Paddy ConsidineViktor Gradov

Stephen RootArthur Hammond

Carla GuginoVice President Elizabeth Kirk

Sarah NilesSimone Bradshaw

Richard CoyleQuincy Harrington

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🏆 Awards

⭐ No major competitive awards or nominations were found in the verified sources used for this update.

⭐ The film’s verified profile is centered on its 2025 Prime Video release, cast, crew, and streaming reception rather than an awards-season run.

⭐ This section can be updated later if awards or nominations are added to major databases.

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📖 Short Plot Summary

U.K. Prime Minister Sam Clarke and U.S. President Will Derringer have a public rivalry that threatens the “special relationship” between their countries. When a foreign adversary targets both leaders and Air Force One is shot down, the two political enemies are forced into a chaotic international escape, aided by MI6 agent Noel Bisset, as they try to stop a conspiracy that threatens the free world.

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❝ Key Quotes

“Puns are for simple people.” — Sam Clarke

“I love puns.” — Will Derringer

“Your initials are W.M.D.?” — Sam Clarke

“Yeah. Pretty bitchin’, right?” — Will Derringer

“I just like sitting in musty old rooms, arguing with boring old men about tax code.” — Sam Clarke

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💡 Trivia

Director

Heads of State was directed by Ilya Naishuller, known for high-energy action filmmaking.
Naishuller was announced as director in 2022 after the project had originally been set up at Amazon Studios.
The movie follows Naishuller’s earlier action films Hardcore Henry and Nobody.
The film leans into buddy-action comedy, pairing political satire with large-scale streaming-era action set pieces.

Cast / Casting

Idris Elba plays Sam Clarke, the British Prime Minister and a former British Army veteran.
John Cena plays Will Derringer, the U.S. President and a former action-movie star.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays Noel Bisset, a senior MI6 agent who becomes central to the mission.
Elba and Cena previously appeared together in The Suicide Squad, making this another action-comedy pairing for the two performers.

Soundtrack / Score

The original score was composed by Steven Price.
The official soundtrack album was released July 2, 2025, the same day the movie premiered on Prime Video.
The soundtrack album includes 21 tracks with a runtime of about 1 hour and 9 minutes.
Licensed music used in the film includes tracks by artists such as Gipsy Kings, Beastie Boys, Mötley Crüe, and Elvis Presley.

Location

The film’s production included location work in London, Liverpool, Trieste, Belgrade, Nice, and other European locations.
The Numbers lists the story as a contemporary action film involving the U.K. Prime Minister, the U.S. President, and a multinational conspiracy.
Trieste, Italy was used for several sequences, including locations standing in for international political action settings.
Some scenes involving the film’s version of La Tomatina were reportedly filmed in Sospel, France rather than Spain.

Behind-The-Scenes

The project was first reported in 2020 as an Amazon action film starring Idris Elba and John Cena.
Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query are credited with the screenplay, from a story by Harrison Query.
The film was released worldwide by Amazon MGM Studios via Prime Video on July 2, 2025.
The MPA rated the film PG-13 for sequences of strong violence/action, language, and some smoking.

Nostalgia

The film’s setup recalls old-school odd-couple action comedies, with two powerful personalities forced to survive together.
Its premise mixes “buddy movie,” political thriller, and streaming blockbuster energy.
John Cena’s character being a former action star gives the movie room to poke fun at celebrity-politician image-making.
The Elba/Cena pairing gives the film a “two movie stars bickering while things explode” throwback vibe.

Easter Eggs

The title works as a political phrase while also nodding to the two-lead buddy-action structure.
Will Derringer’s initials being “W.M.D.” becomes a joke tied directly to his over-the-top presidential action-hero persona.
The film repeatedly plays with U.S./U.K. cultural differences, including jokes about slogans, diplomacy, and national style.
The “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K. is used as both a plot point and a running buddy-comedy tension source.

Misc.

Heads of State premiered on Prime Video on July 2, 2025.
The film runs 113 minutes and is listed by The Numbers as an action comedy.
Rotten Tomatoes summarizes the plot around the public rivalry between Sam Clarke and Will Derringer becoming a forced alliance after Air Force One is shot down.
Your 3 Guys and a Flick ratings page lists the episode as Episode 258, with Don rating it 3.50, Ken rating it 3.25, Jon rating it 3.25, and an overall rating of 3.33.

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