Head of State

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Head of State

PG-13

2003

1h 35m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A low-level Washington, D.C., public servant, Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock), is thrust into the national spotlight when he's asked by Martin Geller (Dylan Baker), the head of the Democratic Party, to run for president after the party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees are killed in a plane crash. The odds are against Gilliam, mostly because he has a penchant for telling the truth about what is wrong with the country. Remarkably, his straight-talking style catches on with the public.

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Critics Consensus

Head of State squanders its potentially ripe premise with watered-down satire and formulaic gags.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/24/2010

3/5

Chris Rock runs for president.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

06/19/2003

1.5/4

But in his acting pursuits, Rock just doesn't do well. He's stiff and uncomfortable on camera, especially when it comes to romantic or emotional scenes.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

04/10/2003

2/4

A missed opportunity.

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Armond White

National Review

11/04/2024

Although Head of State purports to be wild comedy, it falls short of actual satire. Seen today, it looks like wish fulfillment in retrospect.

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

11/15/2019

C+

The film is much like the wannabe candidate foiled by the primaries. You can't help but think what could have been, if only the movie had gotten off on the right foot.

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

04/01/2014

Rock is a man who continues to perpetuate stereotypes for the price of "comedy" and continues making one terrible film after the other.

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David S

@IH8Phags69 May 25

Yeah let's watch a more ret@rd#d version of Obama bin Laden!!!

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Apr 8

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Charlie U.

@scar_anon Feb 16

It’s the perfect action fun time

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 13

Funny in 01 hour, 35 minutes, and 13 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Language, Drug References and Some Sexuality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $38,620,484.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed on March 28th, 2003, in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2003-2025 by DreamWorks SKG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Shane S

@Shanesiwik Jul 10

2 hours of nonsense moviedom that just doesn’t work on any level. But still pretty fun to watch truth be told.

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Larry R.

@Lrice255 Jul 4

Fun and thrilling! Was well done. The whole family enjoyed it!

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Chris Rock

Director

Chris Rock

Mays Gilliam

Bernie Mac

Mitch Gilliam

Dylan Baker

Martin Geller

Nick Searcy

Brian Lewis

Lynn Whitfield

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Synopsis

A low-level Washington, D.C., public servant, Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock), is thrust into the national spotlight when he's asked by Martin Geller (Dylan Baker), the head of the Democratic Party, to run for president after the party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees are killed in a plane crash. The odds are against Gilliam, mostly because he has a penchant for telling the truth about what is wrong with the country. Remarkably, his straight-talking style catches on with the public.

Director: Chris Rock
Producer: Chris Rock, Ali LeRoi, Michael Rotenberg
Screenwriter: Chris Rock, Ali LeRoi
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, 3 Arts Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Drug References|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.8M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)