There’s something mindless about watching an action movie that we all kind of enjoy. At the end of the day, what we want is to watch someone perform an inordinate amount of stunts, take out an absurd number of bad guys, and save the day from bad guys who are very obviously in the wrong. But G20, starring Oscar winner Viola Davis, goes a step further and delivers a fun, feminist version of the same kind of action movie we’ve seen before with a man at the center.
And it’s honestly five times better because of the fact that it is Viola Davis, and no, she’s not doing all of it in heels—but in red sneakers.
The premise of the movie sees a group of terrorists take over the G20 summit, which somehow leaves US President Danielle Sutton—yes, we live in a beautiful world where the United States would actually elect a Black woman as President in this movie—to use not just her governing, but her miltary experience to defend her fellow leaders, not to mention her family, and by extension, you know, the world. Just another day at the office!
It sounds like an absolutely ridiculous premise, but then again, think about the premise of Die Hard, John Wick or even Con Air. The only difference between G20 and those is that they were led by men. Well, and that this movie has a clear female gaze throughout, and I’m not just talking about the fact that the Davis isn’t wearing uncomfortable clothes or heels to fight her way through bad guys, but that as a woman she gets to be a fully realized character—The President, a mom, a wife and even a friend. And that G20 makes it clear that she can do all that and still kick ass.
Davis, who is one of the producers of the film, seemed very intent on sending this message, and in surrounding herself with WOC as she was doing it. Director Patricia Riggen brings an authenticity to the movie that never detracts from what the movie is supposed to be: a fun action flick about a woman taking out the bad guys, sometimes in increasingly surprising ways. Her plans shouldn’t work, but they do. And we’re rooting for her every step of the way.
This is particularly true because, alongside her, are the strangest group of ‘sidekicks’ you could give an action hero, led by Agent Manny Ruiz, played by none other than Will Trent‘s Ramon Rodriguez. Rodriguez plays the straight guy to Davis’ gung-ho President, and yet the dynamic works as well when they’re training as when they are in real danger. Plus, when he jumps out of a car because he would not abandon her, even while hurt, well… we believe it.
MeeWha Alana Lee, Sabrina Impacciatore and Douglas Hodge round off the unlikely group of people who manage to escape the terrorists alongside Manny and US President Danielle Sutton. The unlikely group is never played for laughs, and is also never made into a bigger thing than it needs to be, which is what makes it all work so well. Instead, it’s just a matter of, in a really bad moment, people will try to help each other. At least, most people.
This all adds up to a movie that is exactly what we want it to be just when we need to watch it. Action movies are supposed to be a little mindless, but in 2025, it’s hard to truly turn your mind off, even when you’re watching action movies. So, instead, it’s better to watch one that makes it very clear that it understands the world we live in and how that world can and should be better.
And, well, if all we need to start believing is Viola Davis is as our fictional President, then so be it.
G20 is available to stream on Prime Video.
