Bernie Mac, Chris Rock, Dylan Baker

Chris Rock writes, directs, and stars in the sassy political comedy Head of State, about Mays Gilliam, a black man who's chosen by the leaders of an unspecificed party to run for president afte...( read more  read more... )r their previous candidates die in a plan crash. Though he initially follows his handler's instructions, Gilliam soon starts handling speeches in his own brazen, outspoken way, which starts to turn the tide--which upsets the party leaders who chose him, since they expected him to lose. While Head of State doesn't quite have the razor wit that Rock wields in his stand-up routine, it has a sharper edge than just about any other political satire in recent memory. Rock bursts with charisma, and his supporting cast (including Lynn Whitfield, Dylan Baker, Robin Givens, and especially Bernie Mac as Gilliam's brother and running mate) provide solid comic support. --Bret Fetzer

Flixster Users

54% liked it

51,754 ratings

Critics

30% liked it

115 critics

PG-13, 95 min.

Directed by: Chris Rock

Release Date: March 28, 2003

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 12, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 1,463 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (1,463)


  • January 8, 2009
    Five years ago this movie might sound ridiculous and unreal maybe unreal. But now if you watch it it could be a glimpse to the future with a very funny and ironic view. The movie have some really funny moments. It is directed by Chris Rock and from the beginning we can see his ty...( read more)pical kind of humor with a lot of social criticism and political satire. The cast is good. Chris Rock is great and Bernie Mac hilarious, together they make an excellent couple of comedians. Robin Givens, James Redhorn and Lynn Whitfield complete the cast and add a very good support to the movie.
  • February 3, 2008
    Pending Review...

    Photobucket
  • June 8, 2007
    Ridiculous plot sank this for me, I mean come on a presidential candidate in bling, bling is for the rich, and Chris Rock was the very one that made the 'rich' and 'wealthy' distinction.
  • December 31, 2006
    Good Flick, better than average.
  • November 18, 2006
    This was not very good.
  • November 20, 2009
    Funny until the very end, then it dies. The running gags kill it too.
  • August 14, 2009
    This movie reminds me of Obama. Bet they never thought he would win as well!!
  • July 29, 2009
    What was good about the movie? Tracy Morgan and Bernie Mac. That's about it. Talent was brought from the stage to the screen in these two performers. Sometimes I question why Rock is still popular. His stand up is good. I have not seen it translate into a successful turn in a fil...( read more)m yet. Plain and simple: He can't act. Evidently, he can't write scripts or direct either. He knows talented comedians. He casts them in small roles. He makes mistakes by doing that.
    Photobucket
    "Head of State" tries to throw in some social commentary along with the "humor". Valid points are made about some of the things that could be fixed in the country. However, any poignancy is lost with bad jokes and lack of repeating these messages. If you're looking for a genuinely funny movie that executes everything better, then rent "Bulworth".
  • July 14, 2009
    i loved this movie .. and for those who didnt too bad
  • July 14, 2009
    Chris Rock, Rocks ;)

Critic Reviews


April 10, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A missed opportunity. full review

April 4, 2003
Nick Schager, Nitrate Online

[Rock] seems to think that expanding his critiques to feature-length form requires a cookie-cutter white southern governor as the enemy and lots of "bling bling" style as a positive counterpoint. full review

March 28, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

It's mostly just bland and occasionally embarrassing. full review

March 28, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A pleasing and occasionally very funny movie that maintains a mild but consistent hold on its audience. full review

March 28, 2003
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Ascends to caustic comic outrage every so often and is dopily amusing the rest of the time. full review

March 28, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

What it does wrong is hard to miss, but what it does right is hard to find: it makes an angry and fairly timely comic attack on an electoral system where candidates don't say what they really think bu... full review

March 27, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

A political comedy that refuses to address a single real political topic. full review

March 27, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Chris Rock was busy directing, producing, co-writing and starring in this light comedy. Given his hilarious stand-up routines, one wishes he had spent a little more time on the script. full review

View more Head of State reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • pavacri23
    February 24, 2008
    well i don't know a ot about politics and chris rock is not funny for me so what can i say
  • daniawania
    April 15, 2007
    THIS MOVIE IS CHRIS ROCK'S FUNNIEST MOVIE! I LAUGHED THE ENTIRE TIME! HERE IS MY FAVORITE PART-
    Government People: We want you to run for president.
    Chris Rock: Of What?
    Government People: The United States.
    Chris Rock: Of What?
    Government People: Of America!
    Chris Rock: Which America?
    Government People: North America!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Man of the Year
    Man of the Year (74%)
  • The American President
    The American President (100%)
  • Black Sheep
    Black Sheep (100%)
  • Death to Smoochy
    Death to Smoochy (62%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Head of State : Watch Free on TV


Head of State Trivia


  • Who stars as Mitch Gilliam in the 2004 film "Head of State"?  Answer »
  • Who played as Chris Rock's brother in the movie Head of State?  Answer »
  • In Enemy of the State who has an uncredited role as a head gangster?  Answer »
  • What movie featuring chris rock has the tagline "The only thing white is the house"????  Answer »

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin