The MPA rated Heads of State PG-13 for sequences of strong violence/action, language and some smoking.
Heads of State Review
The film follows a fraught alliance between the U.S. President (John Cena) and the U.K. Prime Minister (Idris Elba), who—despite their public rivalry—find themselves marooned in the middle of a global conspiracy after their plane is shot down. With MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) in tow, they must bury their egos and work together to avert a full-scale crisis.
From the outset, Heads of State hits hard with kinetic energy. Under Ilya Naishuller’s direction, it channels the lean chaos of Nobody, delivering explosive set-pieces with crisp, visceral choreography. The cinematography by Ben Davis complements this swagger—each frame is polished, the globe-trotting locales feel lived-in, and action frequently unfolds in a way that’s both stylish and sensibly shot. It’s a film that prides itself on doing big-budget spectacle without hiding behind shaky-cam smears.
Performance-wise, Cena leans into his “gym‑strong” persona, deploying gleeful bravado and self-aware charm that borders on affectionate parody ew.com. It’s a knowing performance—he plays the wide-eyed action-hero template, but with an ironic wink, making his character as likable as he is predictably reckless. Elba provides the perfect foil: deadpan, controlled, occasionally exasperated. Their chemistry—which first sparked in The Suicide Squad—returns with gusto, generating sharp comedic friction that often propels the film forward.
Chopra Jonas rounds out the trio with confident poise. Her MI6 operative exudes competence and subtly checks the male leads’ egos, though the screenplay doesn’t give her as much to explore emotionally beyond the action. It’s serviceable, but perhaps a missed opportunity to deepen the narrative by giving her character more agency beyond being the intelligent accomplice.
The screenplay, credited to Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Harrison Query, is buoyed by throwback buddy-comedy beats—think Lethal Weapon meets modern geo-politics. Dialogue zips along, but there are moments where the script can’t quite reconcile its self-aware humor with the high stakes it attempts to shoulder. The political satire lands unevenly—too cheeky to be biting, too glossy to be incisive . It’s content with staying on the surface, rarely peeling back the layers of the “special relationship” or the absurdities of global leadership.
Where the film falters is in its tonal balancing act. The light-hearted jabs and explosive set-pieces coexist well enough, but the narrative often stumbles under exposition-heavy mid-act sequences and perfunctory plot twists. Themes of national duty and leadership are introduced, but treated as afterthoughts, submerged under chase scenes and shootouts that, while entertaining, drain narrative momentum.
Still, Heads of State lands more often than it misses. Its strengths—robust leads with undeniable chemistry, bold visuals, and action beats that are as playful as they are precise—outshine moments of script inertia. It doesn’t aspire to be more than a high-gloss, politically tinged action-comedy, and in embracing that identity, it succeeds enough to make the ride worthwhile.
Heads of State 2025 Parents Guide
Violence & Action: This is an action-comedy that delivers on action. The opening sequence alone—featuring a plane hijacking and skydiving escape—sets the tone: stylized, intense, but rarely grim. The violence is non-stop, but not grotesque. Think Jason Bourne meets The Other Guys. Fistfights are frequent, gunfire is rampant, and there are plenty of explosions, but the film avoids gore.
Still, younger or more sensitive viewers might find the intensity jarring. There’s a body count, yes, but it’s the kind of slick, almost-cartoonish body count that rarely dwells on consequence. There’s no bloodbath, but there’s impact. At one point, a character uses a frying pan to take out an attacker—and the film makes it funny rather than traumatic. If your teen has seen Mission: Impossible or Black Panther, they’ve likely seen more intense sequences.
Language & Dialogue: It’s PG-13, so you’ll get your share of edgy one-liners and political insults. Expect mid-level profanity—“damn,” “hell,” “crap,” “ass,” and a few “shits” tossed in for spice. There are no f-bombs (at least not memorable ones), and no vulgar sexual jokes. Most of the language comes off more playful than offensive, used in moments of frustration or comic timing.
The banter between John Cena and Idris Elba’s characters is sharp and constant. Some of the lines will fly over younger heads—especially the satirical digs at politics, diplomacy, and bureaucracy—but older teens will catch the punchlines.
Substance Use: Smoking does appear briefly. A few characters light up cigars in moments meant to telegraph power or old-school masculinity—your classic “I’m in charge” visual. There’s also some drinking, mostly in diplomatic or downtime scenes. No one gets drunk, and the drinking is background, not central to any plot.
There’s no drug use, no pills, no party culture. In that regard, the film is fairly clean.
Sex & Romance: You can exhale—this one’s tame. No sex scenes, no nudity, and hardly any romantic subplots at all. There’s some flirtation here and there, especially from Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s MI6 agent, but it never becomes the focus. The film prioritizes action and comedy over chemistry.
Age Recommendations
Let’s break it down with some honest perspective:
- Ages 10–12: This is the iffy zone. Action and language might be too much, depending on the kid. If they’re already watching PG-13 superhero flicks, they might be fine, but preview it first. Some of the political satire will go over their heads anyway.
- Ages 13–15: Right in the sweet spot. Teens will enjoy the energy, humor, and spectacle. Cena and Elba’s dynamic alone will keep them engaged, and there’s enough action to satisfy even the most impatient viewers.
- Ages 16–17+: No issues here. They’ll get the jokes, appreciate the pacing, and possibly even connect with the subtle nods to national pride and rivalry.
Also Read: Deep Cover 2025 Parents Guide
Final Thoughts
Heads of State is not a family film, but it’s also not a boundary-pusher. It knows its audience—action lovers, fans of buddy comedies, and teens who enjoy charismatic stars having a blast on screen. It’s loud, flashy, and occasionally thoughtful. And while the violence and language might give pause for younger viewers, for most teens, it’s exactly the kind of summer movie you can enjoy without much concern.
If you’re the kind of parent who screens movies before movie night, this one probably earns a light green flag—with a few yellow lights depending on your household’s threshold. At the very least, you won’t be cringing every five minutes—which, these days, is saying something.
In summary, Heads of State offers a whip-smart, globe-trotting buddy-action experience. Cena and Elba ride a fine line between parody and earnestness, carried along by Naishuller’s confident direction and Davis’s slick cinematography. While the screenplay’s tonal inconsistencies and underwritten supporting roles leave a few narrative potholes, the film’s genre-savvy humor and stylish energy make for a consistently engaging summer stream.