XXX: State of the Union | Rotten Tomatoes

XXX: State of the Union

PG-13

Released Apr 29, 2005

1 hr. 40 min.

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

List

17%

139 Reviews

Tomatometer

32%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When the government finds out that a group of terrorists has infiltrated its ranks, and the group is being trained by high-ranking official George Deckert (Willem Dafoe), NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) hires an ex-con to bring down the nefarious plot. Thinking he can trust no one in the government, Augustus springs Darius Stone (Ice Cube), who once trained under him, from prison. Although Darius is a loose cannon, Augustus is convinced he is the only man for the job.

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Critics Consensus

Even more absurd and implausible than the first XXX movie, State of the Union is less inspired and technically competent than its predecessor.

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Troy B

XXX State of the Union was great! It was as good as the first with an Ice Cube twist. Well done!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/23

Full Review

Avish R

This is my guilty pleasure movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/12/22

Full Review

jelisije j

A rare sequel that is better than the original that also develop previous characters backstories, but just as predictable as the original movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

gareth

I lasted about 40 minutes and in that time I probably damaged more brain cells than I did in 20 years of hard drinking. Avoid, if you value your sanity.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/22

Full Review

Audience Member

This is not a good movie by any standards and features cheesier dialogue and more over the top action sequences than the original, which at least creates some mindless fun. Willem Defoe lends a smidgen of credibility to this and he, along with the fact that it at least looks like a blockbuster budget was used, save this from a lower rating. I said the same for the original but it definitely feels like this was trying to tap into that Fast and Furious vibe. I didn't realize until I after I wrote my review for the original yesterday that the director for the original XXX was the same director from the original Fast and Furious. I never realized Vin Diesel wasn't even in the sequel and definitely prefer him in this type of role. Samuel L. Jackson Binge: The contributions from Jackson got better as the film progressed but still never amounted to a memorable role. SLJ January #55

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's not as campy as the original. It's not as good at acting and the plot is even thinner. But the new spin with I hope overly aware gangster bullshit gives you the chuckles sometimes. So that's something. But I could never believe Ice Cube could ever pull off any of those stunts. So, meh...

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Lee Tamahori

Director

Ice Cube

Darius Stone

Willem Dafoe

George Deckert

Scott Speedman

Agent Kyle Steele

Peter Strauss

Sanford

Samuel L. Jackson

Agent Augustus Gibbons

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Paul Arendt

BBC.com

Viewed on its own trashy terms, it succeeds brilliantly.

Rated: 3/5

May 21, 2005

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

And while I'm not about to claim any facet of this feature has more brain cells than a bimbo looking for her next blonde joke, it's never obnoxious in its dimwittedness until that noxiously calamitous final.

Rated: 2/4

May 14, 2005

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

As far as plots go, it doesn't get much flimsier than this.

Rated: 2/10

Nov 9, 2020

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

This is the middle one of a middling trio of entries in the franchise, with regular star Vin Diesel replaced by a particularly burly and surly Ice Cube. End result: no-one wins.

Rated: 1.5/5

Apr 24, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Give Vin Diesel, the star of the original XXX, credit for bailing out and opting to do The Pacifier instead. Sadly enough, he made the right choice.

Rated: D-

Nov 18, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

When the government finds out that a group of terrorists has infiltrated its ranks, and the group is being trained by high-ranking official George Deckert (Willem Dafoe), NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) hires an ex-con to bring down the nefarious plot. Thinking he can trust no one in the government, Augustus springs Darius Stone (Ice Cube), who once trained under him, from prison. Although Darius is a loose cannon, Augustus is convinced he is the only man for the job.

Director: Lee Tamahori
Executive Producer: Rob Cohen, Todd Garner
Screenwriter: Simon Kinberg
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Revolution Studios, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13 (Some Language|Intense Action Violence)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.0M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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