When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.
- Awards
- 10 nominations
Elizabeth J. Carlisle
- Nate's Girl
- (as Elizabeth Johnson)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAdam Sandler: the scream that was used after Mays Gilliam says, "Security!"
- GoofsDuring the wrestling match, several people in the background are seen holding campaign posters depicting Mays and his brother as running together. At this point in the film, his brother had not been announced as his running mate.
- Quotes
Brian Lewis: God bless America. And no place else.
- Crazy creditsIn the opening credits, it lists many famous politicians, then in parenthesis it says "(Are not in this movie)".
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Making of Head of State (2003)
Featured review
Funny (and Visionary) Silliness
One candidate for the presidency dies in an accident a couple of weeks before the election. Meanwhile the alderman Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) becomes a hero when he rescues a woman and her cat from an old house that would blow up. However his fiancée Kim (Robin Givens) does not pay his bills and dumps him, and Gilliam loses everything including his fancy car. When Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn) sees the news on television, he plots a scheme with the party advisors Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) and Debra Lassiter (Lynn Whitfield) to invite Mays to be the party nominee and lose the election for the other candidate, Vice- President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy). Four years later, he would be the candidate and would have the chance of winning the election. Mays has a terrible beginning of campaign but when his older brother Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac) meets him in Chicago, he advises Mays to be himself. Will he have the chance to be the first African American President of the USA?
"Head of State" is a silly film that every now and then makes laugh. The uneven plot has memorable scenes, like the party with the guests dancing or when Mays tells that God should protect the whole world; but there are stupid scene, most of them with Mitch Gilliam in interviews. But in general, this film is satisfactory and entertains. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Um Pobretão na Casa Branca" ("A Pauper in the White House")
"Head of State" is a silly film that every now and then makes laugh. The uneven plot has memorable scenes, like the party with the guests dancing or when Mays tells that God should protect the whole world; but there are stupid scene, most of them with Mitch Gilliam in interviews. But in general, this film is satisfactory and entertains. My vote is six.
Title (Brazil): "Um Pobretão na Casa Branca" ("A Pauper in the White House")
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- claudio_carvalho
- Jul 12, 2016
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $35,200,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $38,125,247
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $13,503,484
- Mar 30, 2003
- Gross worldwide
- $38,620,484
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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