John Cena’s Underhyped New Action-Comedy Is Streaming Hit on Prime Video

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Historically, studios have traditionally launched their biggest blockbusters during summer, aiming for success at the box office. As expected, recent months have seen popular releases like “Lilo & Stitch,” “F1,” and “Jurassic World Dominion” achieving significant box-office success. However, a trip to the cinema doesn’t exhaust your entertainment options. Streaming services are consistently expanding their libraries with new movies and shows, aiming for another kind of success in living rooms. For instance, a recent addition to Prime Video has garnered massive viewership.

The movie “Heads of State,” featuring John Cena and Idris Elba in the lead roles, has topped the charts as the most watched film on Amazon Prime for the past week.

In the movie, action stars Cena and Elba, previously teamed up in “The Suicide Squad”, are brought together once more for a unique action-packed adventure. Here, Cena assumes the role of Will Derringer, a former Hollywood celebrity who has ascended to the position of the United States President. Meanwhile, Elba embodies British Prime Minister Sam Clarke. Although they have differing views, their survival of an attack compels them to collaborate in order to prevent a lethal terrorist plot.

Under the guidance of director Ilya Naishuller, known simply as “Nobody”, the film “Heads of State” was warmly received upon its release on Prime Video on July 2nd. Critics appreciated the camaraderie between the two main actors and found the movie to be an enjoyable viewing experience with some thrilling action scenes. Actress Priyanka Chopra, portraying MI6 agent Noelle Bisset, was also lauded for her acting skills.

As a movie enthusiast, I was thrilled when Amazon highlighted the upcoming release of “Heads of State”. A couple of trailers were dropped, hinting at an exciting cinematic experience. However, compared to other films, the promotional efforts seemed rather low-key. Perhaps this was due to the fact that “Heads of State” skipped the traditional theater run and went straight to Amazon Prime instead. This means there was no need for a massive campaign to increase box office sales. Instead, the studio seemed to bank on viewers stumbling upon it while binge-watching shows. Despite being released over a crowded holiday weekend, I found myself drawn to give it a watch, and it has not disappointed!

The leaders might not have achieved the same level of success had they been given a typical cinema release. Despite featuring Dwayne Johnson (Cena) and Idris Elba, it’s a light-hearted action film that could easily be overlooked amidst the premiere of a new Jurassic World movie and upcoming blockbusters like Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Amazon Prime Video turned out to be an ideal platform for such a project, and it will be intriguing to observe if Heads of State sparks a new franchise for the streaming service.

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2025-07-10 21:41