There are films you expect an Academy Award-winning, EGOT-honoured actor like Viola Davis to headline — G20 isn’t one of them. The political action thriller, now streaming on Prime Video, positions Davis as the President of the United States in a chaotic, near-parodic plot driven by surface-level feminist themes and overt pro-US sentiment.
Fast Facts About G20
- What: An action thriller in which a Black woman US president becomes the target of terrorists at the G20 summit
- Directed by: Patricia Riggen
- Starring: Viola Davis, Marsai Martin, Anthony Anderson, Antony Starr
- Streaming on: Prime Video
- What to expect: Action set-pieces requiring extreme suspension of disbelief
Plot Summary: President Under Siege
Viola Davis plays President Danielle Sutton, a competent but underappreciated leader whose approval ratings are plummeting. Despite her decorated military past, public attention remains fixed on her appearance — not her policies. As her rebellious daughter Serena (Marsai Martin) constantly eludes her security detail, the media questions whether Sutton can protect her country if she can’t manage her family.
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At the G20 summit in Cape Town — chosen, the director admits, due to tax incentives — Sutton brings her daughter along, hoping proximity will inspire better behaviour. Instead, the summit is attacked by terrorists who target Sutton, forcing the president to use her dormant combat skills to save the day.
Action Meets Absurdity
G20 plays like a parody, except it’s entirely serious. Its plot leans heavily on patriotic tropes and tired feminist one-liners. Sutton — always framed as a wife and mother before a commander-in-chief — is expected to fight terrorists in a satin gown and bare arms glistening with action-movie sheen. At one point, she even saves a helicopter dangling off a skyscraper.
Despite Davis’s considerable talent, Sutton is underwritten. Her main character traits? Hating high heels and loving her family.
Marsai Martin Steps Into a Serious Role
Marsai Martin, known for her comedic chops on Black-ish, transitions into a more dramatic role as Serena. Her transformation from surly teen to action co-hero is predictable but serviceable. However, neither she nor Davis can elevate the material above its formulaic, made-for-streaming origins.
The Scene-Stealing Villain
Surprisingly, the film’s most compelling character is its villain. Played with menacing flair by The Boys star Antony Starr, he delivers outrageous, often racist one-liners with chilling conviction. His over-the-top performance brings much-needed energy to a film otherwise drowning in clichés.
Why Did Viola Davis Do G20?
Given her track record — from Fences to The Woman King — Davis’s involvement in a film like G20 raised eyebrows. But according to director Patricia Riggen, the actor was clear in her motivation:
“I remember Viola saying, ‘I want a popcorn movie! I want to watch it with my daughter and have fun,’” Riggen shared at a virtual press conference.
Riggen added that the film is designed to be two hours of escapism and that it’s “cool” to see a woman president portrayed on screen, even if only in fiction.
Davis on Representation and Empowerment
Davis echoed the sentiment, saying she hoped G20 would inspire girls and women:
“The only limits to their lives are the limits to their imagination — which is limitless. We’re not just there to be an extension of male desirability or to be nice.”
But while the film attempts to showcase empowerment, it ultimately falls flat. The reality that a Black woman as US president remains fantasy — and must be militarised to be “believable” — says more about Hollywood’s current imagination than it does about true progress.
Final Thoughts: Empowerment or Empty Spectacle?
G20 aims to empower women and celebrate representation, but its execution sends mixed messages. Rather than offering a thoughtful portrayal of leadership or identity, it delivers a chaotic blend of muscle-flexing, patriotism, and outdated dialogue.
Viola Davis may have wanted a popcorn movie. What she got was a missed opportunity.
