G20 Rockets Up HBO’s Streaming Charts: The Action Thriller You Can’t Miss

So, we’ve all seen action heroes save the day—Jack Ryan’s been there, Gerard Butler’s saved every president possible, and Harrison Ford may or may not still own a bomber jacket with a presidential seal on it. But now, the trend has shifted, and this time it’s not a grizzled CIA agent or a Secret Service vet doing the superheroics. It’s the President herself. That’s right: 'G20' brings us President Danielle Sutton, who throws diplomacy out the window and handles business herself when terrorists come knocking.

The President Is in the Fight—Literally

If you missed it last year, 'G20' launched on Prime Video, and now it’s making the rounds on HBO Max, making friends (and a few enemies) in the algorithm’s Top 10 chart next to stuff like 'Anaconda,' 'The Creator,' 'Civil War,' and Bob Odenkirk’s surprisingly unstoppable 'Nobody 2.'

The big hook? Viola Davis stars as President Sutton—and let’s be honest, if there’s any American president you’d want in your corner during a crisis, it’s probably Viola Davis. She’s up against terrorists led by Antony Starr, who you might recognize if you’ve watched 'The Boys' (it seems like Hollywood’s go-to bad guy these days either has a British accent or is from a superhero show, so this tracks).

Here’s the quick breakdown of the movie’s setup:

• The G20 summit gets attacked by a well-coordinated team of terrorists.
• President Sutton (Viola Davis) is targeted, but turns out to be a lot more dangerous than anyone expected.
• She fights to protect her own family, the world’s top politicians, and basically, the fate of the free world—all with more grit and direct involvement than any fictional president I can think of.
• Other recognizable faces in the cast include Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, and Clark Gregg, who all help fill out the White House/hostage drama side of things.

Action director Patricia Riggen (who worked on 'Jack Ryan'), teamed up with writers Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss, Logan Miller, and Noah Miller to make 'G20' feel less 'Oval Office debate' and more 'Die Hard at a diplomatic mixer.'

How Is It Actually Doing?

Here’s where things get a little weird: Critics weren’t totally sold. The Rotten Tomatoes score hovers at a “rotten” 55% and audiences weren’t any more generous—the Popcornmeter comes in at 45%. That said, this isn’t hurting its popularity at all. It’s bounced all over the Top 10 on HBO Max, so clearly, people are watching, whatever the reviews are saying.

Sequel Talk (with an Unexpected Twist)

If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of a political action sequel, you might want to hold that thought. Director Patricia Riggen already has some ideas brewing, and they’re not what you’d expect. Her dream? To take the chaos international in the next movie and bring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan into the mix, playing another country’s leader.

"You know what—if we get a lot of people watching this movie, for instance in India, we can do 'G20: India' next year," Riggen said last year. "You guys have the best actors, you have the amazing, good-looking, versatile actors, so I would get Shah Rukh Khan for sure."

So if you’re into the idea of an international leaders club all brawling in the halls of power (and let’s be honest, who isn’t at this point?), then you might want to keep streaming 'G20'—Riggen is apparently tracking the numbers. Odds are, if the movie’s viewership stays strong on Prime and HBO Max, we’ll see a sequel where even bigger names step into the global action-movie madness.