Head of State

Head of State (2003)

  • 31% of critics liked it
    (117 reviews)

  • 49% of users liked it
    (55,487 ratings)

Can a high-attitude African-American politician who says what he thinks stand a chance in a presidential campaign? Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is a straight-talking alderman representing a inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. In the midst of a hard-fought race for the White House, the… More

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PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Chris Rock, Ali Leroi
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Mar 28, 2003 Wide
DreamWorks SKG

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    A missed opportunity.

  • J. Hoberman, Village Voice

    It's pretty much a toothless dog.

  • Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

    ... I liked this premise in movies like Dave, or the Eddie Murphy movie The Distinguished Gentleman, where the unknown or the underdog becomes the candidate or even the president, but this is so poorly done.

  • James Berardinelli, ReelViews

    As a TV sitcom pilot, Head of State might have potential, but, on a multiplex screen, the execution (if not the premise) is thin.

  • Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

    Not the sharpest political humor I've ever heard, but it gets my vote for the stupidest fun I've had in a long time.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Lenny M


    Foreshadowing. Most Chris Rock-lead movies are terrible, this one is his best.

  • Jose Z


    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 typical… More

  • Emily A


    I'm so glad the studios ended up trusting Chris Rock to direct a movie. Man, he should run for President. Although he crosses the surrealism line a little too often for my tastes, this movie was a hilarious indictment of phoniness in American politicians. I have a little souvenir… More

  • James A


    I know what your thinking, Chris Rock in a bad movie?

  • Deb S


    This is a very funny satire of our political system and of black culture with the general premise being a black man is chosen to run for president by a white establishment that assumes he'll lose. Chris Rock plays Mays Gilliam, an alderman who finds himself running for President… More

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

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