Written by Habiba Atta
G20 is a political thriller filled with high-stakes hostage situations, surprise attacks, and strategic tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat with anticipation. During the renowned G20 summit, which takes place annually, global leaders from the largest economies and along with invited guests gather. Events escalate into chaos when terrorists breach this private affair as they take global leaders hostage. The film starts very strongly, with gunfights and a huge explosion as the terrorists completely wipe out the security teams of the leaders, leaving them alone and without protection. The audience experiences real-time strategic political tactics, secret operations, and moral conflicts navigated by world government leaders and their unlikely teams.
At the center of the film is President Danielle Sutton (Viola Davis), a former military veteran. With an amazing cast (including but not limited to Antony Starr, Marsai Martin, Anthony Anderson, and Clark Gregg) President Sutton is forced into impossible situations where she must build alliances, navigate combat, and emotionally prevail—all while protecting the lives of others, most importantly her very own family. Davis delivers an incredible performance, serving as the film’s standout, as she never overacts her heroic stance but gracefully showcases the character’s determination and fighting spirit. One of her best moments has to be when Sutton goes to extreme lengths to give her daughter safe passage to reach the front desk to retrieve necessary equipment to call for backup — a healing moment that highlights Sutton’s strength as both a leader and a mother.
The thrilling action, well-timed attacks, intense battles, and seamlessly orchestrated moments are not the film’s only assets. The diplomatic manipulation also plays a significant role, illustrating the varying power levels held by each world leader. This is apparent in how the terrorists are more focused on specific leaders than others, giving more weight to the major countries. It’s fascinating to witness the procedures these leaders and their teams follow in an impossible terrorist situation. In the compound, these powerful leaders are shown to be ordinary humans. The question arises: what decisive actions are acceptable when every choice could lead to a potential global incident?
The film moves quickly, with suspense repeatedly building and dissipating just as fast. It also engages with predictable tropes such as the rogue hero and perfectly timed moments; however, these elements are well-developed and appropriately placed. The film’s quick pace leaves no room for lag, making the rapid escalations feel warranted in such a high-stakes scenario, playing well into the action scenes. The audience becomes familiar with the world affairs, as well as the main protagonist and antagonist, enough to understand their motives, relationships, and moral complexities.
Visually, G20 is sleek and stylish. The summit setting is thoughtfully crafted, featuring cultural representation alongside sharp, high-tech elements with advanced gadgets and military weapons. None of this distracts from the main storyline. Instead, it contributes to its development. The cinematography perfectly enhances the isolation and claustrophobia experienced by the characters inside the compound as they are trapped, accompanied by well-composed dialogue that maintains the immersive experience.
A significant strength of the film is its balance between politics and the reality of the situation. In a hyper-connected world, where the dangers of deepfakes and misinformation are evident, the audience is prompted to consider the cost of leadership. Although the film isn’t heavily political, it clearly represents real world power dynamics. One moment that really stood out was the leak of fake live feeds showing the world that everything was going smoothly and according to plan, when in reality, the leaders were hostages in a chaotic, life-threatening situation. This showed how easy it is for fake news to spread and how far removed the public can be from the truth.
Ultimately, G20 sparks a conversation about leadership while functioning as a high-stakes thriller. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t seem to introduce anything new or reveal unseen elements. However, it is a nuanced film, executed with confidence, strategy, and emotional depth and the thought-provoking questions the film leaves behind are the real treat.
