Heads of Stateis now streaming on Prime Video, andthe success of the new film has many audiences looking for what to watch next.A charming action comedy with two incredibly likable leads, theending ofHeads of Statesets up a warm future for President Will Derringer and Prime Minister Sam Clarke.
Heads of Stateis not the most original movie of the year, but its charm and action have gone a long way in making it one of thebest movies to stream this weekend.With charismatic leads and a great deal of both humor and heart,the film provides a couple of strong hours of sharp and funny entertainment.
The new film has already become astreaming hit for Prime Video, and by the time the credits roll,appetites have been whetted for more films in the same vein. WithHeads of Statedrawing influence from so many other great action movies and comedies over the years, there are so many excellent options for what to watch next.
Roland Emmerich’sWhite House Downis a fun thriller that sees Channing Tatum’s John Cale resisting a terrorist attack on the White House. Featuring Jamie Foxx as thePresident of the United States,the film draws obvious comparisons toHeads of State.
WhereWhite House Downexcels is in its action. Helmed by Emmerich, who also made another great Fourth of July thriller inIndependence Day,this movie makes an action hero out of the president.While not as full of humor asHeads of State, the film will tickle many of the same fancies as the Cena and Elba movie.
Considered to be one of the most underseen andunderrated moviesof the last decade,Shane Black’sThe Nice Guysuses neo-noir vibes to tell a hilarious detective story.Russell Crowe is at his best, and Ryan Gosling gives a hilarious performance that he would later seem to tap into as a foundation for his Ken character inBarbie.
The Nice Guyshas great action, but it also has one of the funniest scripts in recent years.There are so many excellent jokes that keep the audience laughing between a handful of strong thrills. Anyone who hasn’t seenThe Nice Guysneeds to change that as soon as they can.
BothOlympus Has FallenandWhite House Downwere released in the same year, in 2013. Each takes a slightly different lens to political thrillers, but onlyOlympus Has Fallenwent on to have several sequels and a TV series.Olympusis a strong action film that sees Gerard Butler at his best, and the sequels help to create more ties toHeads of State.
Following the first film,the sequel moves the action to England inLondon Has Fallen.Political leaders from both nations are seen, and the franchise expands its world in a way that connects to the new Prime Video action comedy. This whole franchise is worth exploring afterHeads of State.
BeforeHarrison Ford became the president inCaptain America: Brave New World, he played President James Marshall in Wolfgang Petersen’sAir Force One.The film makes an action star out of the American leaderin a way that would inspire characters like Will Derringer inHeads of State.
With a strong villain played by Gary Oldman,the film is a tense and exciting action thriller, largely set on the titular plane.Ford gives a great performance as an aspirational leader with strong charisma, and the film makes for a perfect watch over any patriotic holiday.
Melissa McCarthy is an unusual hero inSpy, andher fish-out-of-water story draws some parallels with the newHeads of State.Both see heroes born of necessity, and both see their actions weighed against enormous odds that could impact the entire world in tremendous and terrifying ways.
Blending action and comedy,Spyis one of the best collaborations betweenPaul Feig and Melissa McCarthy.The action is bolstered by great humor and a strong heart,with interesting and compelling characters. LikeHeads of State, the film finds a good balance of violence and jokes across its runtime.
Based on the television series of the same name,21 Jump Streetis one of the funniest spy comedies ever made, and much of this comes from the charisma of the leads.Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill have great chemistry in the film,just like Elba and Cena, and the great action is always complemented by a hilarious script.
21 Jump Streetwas a big hit and quickly had a sequel put together in22 Jump Street. A crossover third film withMen in Blackwas being considered by Sony, but the project never materialized.
Directly by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who recently had aspoiler-filled trailer from their next filmProject Hail Maryreleased,21 Jump Streetis a great film with tonal similarities toHeads of State.Balancing great fights against strong jokes, and with two excellent leads, it’s a great choice to watch after the new Prime Video thriller.
One of the many notable inspirations forHeads of StatewasLethal Weapon, andthat film’s DNA is all over it.Another movie with great leads and incredible action,Lethal Weaponsees the strong pairing of Riggs and Murtaugh experiencing the same tension described by Ilya Naishuller inEmpire’s print issue aboutHeads of State:
The real story is not will they survive, because we know they will… but will they become friends?
The first installment has a lot of darkness, especially in the way that it portrays Riggs' depression and madness, butthis mania becomes lighter and more textured in the sequels. Even as they become more accessible,all theLethal Weaponmoviesfeel like a must-watch after the excellent action ofHeads of State.
All theJack Ryan movies and showsare worth watching, butPatriot Gamesis the one with the most in common withHeads of State.A political thriller that is character-focused, with Harrison Ford playing the iconic role, the thriller is a strong look at patriotism as the country changes through the years.
The movie makes many changes to the Tom Clancy novel, butits look at America as Jack Ryan is forced to fight against Sean Bean’s Sean Miller is strong and thrilling.With a great cast, clear direction, and strong action, the film is an excellent choice to watch afterHeads of State.
A fun take on the spy genre with violent action and some raunchy humor,Kingsman: The Secret Serviceis a look at British Intelligence through the eyes of comics creator Mark Millar.The film sees an unconventional hero thrown into a world of intrigue and espionage, fighting back against outsized, twisted threats to the whole world.
LikeHeads of State,Kingsmandoes a great job of integrating comedy into its heated story.While the otherKingsmanmoviesfailed to live up to the strength of this first installment, this film is a must-watch afterHeads of State. With a charismatic lead actor, there is a lot to enjoy in the movie.
John Cena and Idris Elba built a strong dynamicinThe Suicide Squadthat is on display in their excellent chemistry inHeads of State. The James Gunn film is a witty and irreverent look at the world of superheroes andsees Elba’s Bloodsport clashing heads with Cena’s Peacemaker repeatedly.Their chemistry is clear, and the movie contains spectacular action.
The Suicide Squadclearly laid the foundation forHeads of Stateand is a must-watch.Despite having an almost identical title, the movie is much stronger than 2016’sSuicide Squad,but was missed by many audiences upon release. AfterHeads of State, it is the best way to spend some more time with Elba and Cena.
