Heads of State is a fun movie that, unfortunately, continues a frustrating trend. Amazon MGM Studios has carried on a lengthy legacy of filmmaking, earning the studio some serious critical attention over the years thanks to films like Manchester by the Sea, Sound of Metal, and American Fiction. It’s also produced some genuinely great broad-appeal movies, with the action-packed buddy comedy Heads of State just being the latest star-studded flick to debut on the Prime Video streaming app.

This reinforces Amazon MGM Studios’ approach to broad-appeal films, which seems like a waste of an opportunity given how popular their movies can become over time. Heads of State was perfectly designed for a theatrical release, but instead dropped straight onto Prime Video instead of going on the big screen. While this helped it dodge compeтιтion from movies like Jurᴀssic World Rebirth, it does feel like a waste given how well the studio’s broader films could be doing on a big screen.

Prime Video’s Recent Movie Slate Was Perfect For Movie Theaters

Heads Of State Is Just The Latest Amazon MGM Studios Movie That Deserved A Better Rollout

Heads of State is just the latest Prime Video film that is perfectly designed to do well on the big screen, making its streaming debut all the more frustrating. Heads of State is a broad action-comedy that’s just self-aware enough to have fun without crossing the line into pure parody.

It’s a mᴀss-appeal movie in a way that many films simply aren’t anymore. It’s also not the first Prime Video movie in 2025 that could be described like that, either. You’re Cordially Invited, Deep Cover, and Another Simple Favor were also star-studded romps that embraced a comedic tenor even while playing with other genres like romance or crime thrillers.

All of them are fun movies, the kind that used to populate theaters fifteen years ago to some impressive staying power. Heads of State in particular works largely because of the charm of the leads, the inventive nature of the action, and a rousing third act that seems perfectly designed to elicit cheers from a theater audience.

As a result, I wish more people got to see them on the big screen. I wish cinephiles and casual audiences alike got the chance to enjoy the film together on the big screen. The problem is that because the movie went straight to Prime Video, it never got the chance to reach its true potential in front of a wide audience.

I’ve Seen Prime Video’s Recent Films On A Big Screen (And I Wish Others Could Too)

All Of Them Are Fun Films To See With A Theatrical Audience

Because I’m a member of the entertainment press, I see most films early and on the big screen, whether or not they’re debuting on streaming. This was the case for You’re Cordially Invited, Another Simple Favor, and Heads of State — all of which I saw theatrically with an audience of fellow media professionals and studio employees.

While Deep Cover was sent to me as a private screener, it’s clear it shared that same kind of energy that elevated the other three on the big screen. None of them are necessarily perfect films, but they’re all well-made, with certain charms and the kind of energy that thrives on the big screen.

The big action beats of Heads of State are the best example of that. The movie played well to the early audience that I saw the film with, especially the bigger action moments. Jack Quaid’s memorable appearance, Priyanka Chopra’s fight scenes, and a chase scene in the third act focused on Idris Elba and John Cena all worked wonderfully on the audience, including myself.

It had a notable effect on how I took in the film. The experience took on a communal feeling where we could all cheer at a sudden turn or laugh at an unexpected joke. I enjoyed Heads of State on its own, but seeing it in a theater made me love it.

It’s something that I love about my job, and makes me sad for everyone else. Movies like Heads of State and Deep Cover are crowd-pleasers, the sort of movies that could benefit from solid reviews and good word-of-mouth to become sleeper hits for their star-studded casts. Unfortunately, no one else gets to experience them that way.

I Don’t Understand Prime Video’s Movie Rollout

Films Like Heads Of State Would Land Better On The Big Screen

All four of those films are exactly the kind of movies audiences always complain about not seeing anymore. All of them are geared towards adults, with big names and original characters. Only Another Simple Favor was connected to an established franchise, and even then, the expansion felt like a natural growth from the success of the previous movie.

These movies are all charming, fun, and work with non-established IP. They also all premiered on Prime Video, where they may find an early audience but can quickly become lost in the sheer deluge of other available movies and shows on the streaming platform.

Just because the movies are destined for Prime Video doesn’t mean they have to skip the big screen entirely. These movies have box office draws in the lead roles, with a natural ability to earn potentially solid results at the box office. They could earn the studio some solid box office gross, but would also be ideal for expanding the Amazon MGM Studios brand.

Amazon MGM Studios could release these movies theatrically, even just in short bursts, to garner more attention for their later debut on Prime Video. This way, the influx of positive reviews and good word-of-mouth could help make their debuts on streaming land with more excitement.

I Have Faith That Prime Video Can Make MGM A Big-Screen Name Again

Successful Theatrical Releases Could Make Audiences More Confident About Amazon MGM Studios’ Next Bond

None of this is to chastise Prime Video for their choices in films. I love that all four movies were dependent on strong casts, fun writing, and clever direction instead of established IP. I appreciate that all of them were relatively fresh concepts, with even Another Simple Favor‘s Italian and soap opera-style expansion giving the story fresh energy after the first film.

I just wish more people got to see these movies like I do and enjoy them together on the big screen. They make these films inherently more memorable and personal, an event at the theater instead of something you can just put on in the background while you fold laundry.

Because Amazon MGM Studios operates as part of a larger Amazon conglomerate, its measure of success is different from most studios. It doesn’t have to rely so heavily on box office numbers, which gives the studio some unique freedoms. However, embracing the theatrical release, at least in some capacity, could be the key to elevating their original films in the public eye.

Think of it as the ultimate teaser for Prime Video, a showcase of the clever films available on the service. While a limited theatrical engagement might be all that’s called for, these movies could draw attention to the studio’s output and show off the kind of stories they’re producing.

It would also likely earn Amazon MGM Studios some love from the theatrical arm of the film industry, moving them away from an existential threat to a more active part of the theatrical ecosystem. With Amazon MGM Studios more actively in control of the next James Bond film, that connection needs to be shored up ahead of release.

Releasing movies like Heads of State on the big screen ahead of their streaming debuts might be the key to that approach. It could prove that Amazon MGM Studios belongs to be alongside other marquee studio releases, earn back favor with the theater chains, and ensure that movies like Heads of State get the kind of showcase they deserve.