Film Heads of State Review: Priyanka Chopra Shines Alongside John Cena and Idris Elba

By Shanti Swaroop Tripathi

• Rating: 3.5 Stars
• Producers: John Ricard, Peter Safran
• Story: Harrison Query
• Production Companies: The Safran Company, Amazon, MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Big Indie Pictures
• Writers: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Harrison Query
• Director: Ilya Naishuller
• Cast: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Carla Gugino
• Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Language: English
• Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, from July 2

Hollywood film Heads of State, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video from July 2, features powerful performances by Priyanka Chopra, John Cena, and Idris Elba. While the film explores political rivalry, it also evokes the charm of 90s Bollywood, packed with action and comedy. Produced by The Safran Company, Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Big Indie Pictures, the film marks another milestone in Priyanka Chopra’s Hollywood career following projects like We Can Be Heroes, The Matrix Resurrections, Love Again, and Tiger (as narrator). In Heads of State, she plays a pivotal role alongside Cena and Elba, scaling new heights.

Story

The story opens at a Tomato Festival, where MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra) appears undercover as a reporter. She is on a joint CIA-MI6 mission to capture Russian arms dealer Victor Gradov (Paddy Considine), but fails and vanishes from the storyline. Focus then shifts to UK Prime Minister Sam Clark (Idris Elba) and US President Will Derringer (John Cena). Sam is a serious, thoughtful leader, while Derringer is a former action star turned president. Sam doesn’t take Will seriously, though he secretly enjoys watching his old movies.

Sam and Will, fierce rivals, openly dislike each other. But after Air Force One is attacked, compromising their safety, the two leaders must set aside their egos and team up to save themselves and the world. They parachute out of the plane before it's shot down. Will's parachute gets stuck in a tree, and Sam helps him down. Will tries to call his wife, but Sam, aware they are being tracked, destroys his phone.

Now, presumed dead by the world, the rivals become reluctant allies. They travel from Belarus to Warsaw, even hitching a ride in a sheep truck, while being chased. In Warsaw, they meet eager CIA agent Marty Comer (Jack Quaid), who, thrilled to protect such high-profile figures, uses heavy weaponry and gadgets to combat their pursuers, primarily the deadly Gradov and his henchman Arthur Hammond (Stephen Root). Noel Bisset (Priyanka) reappears just in time to help unravel a larger conspiracy before time runs out.

Review

Based on Harrison Query’s story and scripted by Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Query himself, the film effectively blends action, light politics, and humor. The dialogues between Sam and Will are especially entertaining. Witty references to NATO, fish and chips, and underwear modeling land as punchy comic relief. Impressively, the political aspects don’t go over the audience’s head.

The film layers the personal rivalry of two world leaders with a high-stakes chase and a global peace-threatening conspiracy. The writers skillfully weave these threads into a tight, engaging narrative. The action sequences—fights aboard Air Force One, train chases, street combat, and even a silly scuffle with Polish teen thugs—are thrilling. A highlight is the reverse car chase through narrow alleys in the presidential limo, "The Beast." Despite the explosions, stunts, and balcony jumps, no one gets seriously hurt—a true Hollywood trait.

Director Ilya Naishuller deserves credit for utilizing his cast's strengths: John Cena’s comic timing, Idris Elba’s gravitas, and Priyanka Chopra’s commanding action presence are well-balanced. Thanks to this smart direction, Heads of State feels like both an action thriller and a political satire. Violence, comedy, and international tension unfold simultaneously. Although the narrative weakens occasionally, the trio’s compelling performances compensate.

Shortcomings

Despite a strong start, the film’s freshness and pace begin to wane mid-way. By the climax, the predictability drags it down slightly. However, Priyanka Chopra’s reentry in the second half revitalizes the energy. Director Naishuller’s storytelling style ensures that the audience stays entertained without overthinking.

Ben Davis’s cinematography adds excitement, while Steven Price’s score elevates the action.

Acting

As Will Derringer, the action-star-turned-US president, John Cena showcases superb comic timing. Idris Elba, as the stern British PM and former soldier Sam Clark, delivers a commanding performance. Priyanka Chopra, playing MI6 agent Noel Bisset, continues her impressive Hollywood journey. Her action scenes are stylish, smart, and impactful. She’s fast, confident, and completely immersed in her role—far from just glam, she’s central to the mission. Her chemistry with Elba is both sharp and mature.

Chopra impresses in every scene—from her early undercover sequence to the critical moments where she helps prevent a catastrophe threatening world peace. Jack Quaid as CIA chief and Carla Gugino in a minor VP role are decent. Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Aleksandr Kuznetsov, and Katrina Durden also justify their roles.

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