'Heads of State' Movie Review: Priyanka Chopra Steals The Show In Cena and Elba's Banter-Filled Comedy

In Heads of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller, global diplomacy gets a gym membership. What unfolds is a high-octane, logic-lite action-comedy where John Cena plays U.S. President William Derringer—a former action movie star who somehow ends up in the White House, still running on muscle memory and Hollywood instincts. It's a cheeky swipe at the current state of American politics, where charisma and celebrity often eclipse competence. Opposite him is Idris Elba as British Prime Minister Sam Clarke, the steely, suit-clad adult in the room. Their dynamic is the film’s primary engine—an opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers trope that barrels through an increasingly ridiculous series of events.  

The film opens with Priyanka Chopra Jonas quite literally kicking things off, storming into a scene that feels equal parts James Bond and Fast & Furious, minus the seriousness. She plays MI6 agent Noel Bisset, who pretends to be an undercover news reporter amidst the chaos of Spain’s La Tomatina festival. What begins as a celebration turns into a blood-soaked MI6 and FBI takedown, orchestrated by tech mogul and arms dealer Viktor Gradov (also the villian of the movie). For a while, it feels like the film might just belong to her—she’s sharp, stylish, and drives the plot forward with a no-nonsense energy that makes you sit up — but PC's prominence doesn't last long.

John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in 'Heads of State'

What happens next is predictably tense and mildly ridiculous. Derringer and Clarke meet for the first time to discuss the Gradov-led takedown publicly , and unsurprisingly, it goes downhill fast. There’s ego, miscommunication, and an exchange that feels more like a school debate than a diplomatic briefing. As damage control, their respective teams scramble for optics—cue a forced show of unity. The solution? Fly together on the Air Force One. Things go wrong mid-air, of course. Their plane is attacked, they’re shot down over Belarus, and from here, the buddy-movie chaos begins. 

Stranded in hostile territory with no security, no communication, and very different world views, Derringer and Clarke are forced to work together. Their odd-couple energy drives the film from here on out: Clarke’s dry, “We don’t do that” meets Derringer’s, “We already did.” They bicker through car chases, leap from exploding buildings, hitch rides on moving trains (cue a chaotic DDLJ-coded moment), and punch their way through every country between Belarus and Brussels. They may come from different walks of government, but together they barrel through ridiculous ambushes, cringe-worthy fight sequences, and political intrigue—it's always light on logic but heavy on laughs. 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas in 'Heads of State'

Midway through the chaos, the film tosses in its biggest twist yet—Priyanka Chopra's Noel Bisset returns with a bang, and is also revealed to have had a romantic past with Elba’s Sam Clarke, adding a jolt of emotional tension in the film. As the two secretly reunite, they begin to unravel the real conspiracy: the Vice President of the United States has stepped in during Derringer’s absence and turns out to be the mole, secretly colluding with Viktor Gradov to dismantle NATO from within. It’s a partnership rooted in power grabs and personal agendas—her political ambitions, his anti-Western ideology. The final act plays out at the NATO summit in Brussels, where Clarke and Derringer (with Bisset back in the mix) stage a dramatic takedown to expose the betrayal and prevent the alliance from collapsing. 

You don’t walk into Heads of State expecting nuance, and the film knows that. But it is entertaining, especially if you know what you’re signing up for. Come for the stars, stay for the sheer madness, and leave with your brain pleasantly turned off. In a world where politics already feels like performance art, this movie might not be that far off the mark.