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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →XXX: State of the Union is a 2005 action-spy sequel in which Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, the new xXx agent recruited by Samuel L. Jackson’s Augustus Gibbons to stop a military conspiracy in Washington, D.C. Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage is not the lead character, and Lee Tamahori directed the film.
The movie continues the xXx franchise through Gibbons rather than through Xander Cage. Its combination of extreme-sports action, covert investigation, military intrigue, and a Capitol-centered crisis makes it a standalone-style sequel with a substantially different lead.
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Key takeaways
- XXX: State of the Union is the second xXx film, released theatrically in the United States on April 29, 2005.
- Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, the new xXx agent; Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage is not the lead character in this installment.
- Samuel L. Jackson returns as NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons, the connective character between the original film and the sequel.
- Lee Tamahori directed the film, Simon Kinberg wrote the screenplay, and the PG-13 action thriller runs approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
- According to Rotten Tomatoes page data for the 2005 film, the movie has a 17% Tomatometer score from 138 reviews.
- The Numbers reports a worldwide theatrical gross of $71,073,932 against a reported $60,000,000 production budget.
What is XXX: State of the Union about?
XXX: State of the Union follows Darius Stone, a former Navy SEAL and ex-convict recruited by NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons after an attack on an underground NSA facility. Stone becomes the newest xXx agent and investigates a military conspiracy led by George Deckert that threatens the U.S. government in Washington, D.C.
The film combines covert investigation with large-scale action, extreme-sports spectacle, military intrigue, and a political-conspiracy plot. The official Sony Pictures synopsis identifies Ice Cube’s Darius Stone as the newest xXx agent and places the central conflict in the nation’s capital.
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- Tom Cruise 10 Movie Collection
- Product Type: Physical Movie
- Brand: Paramount
Is XXX: State of the Union a sequel?
Yes. XXX: State of the Union is the second film in the xXx series, but it is not a direct continuation of Xander Cage’s personal story. The sequel keeps Samuel L. Jackson’s Augustus Gibbons as its main piece of franchise continuity while introducing Ice Cube’s Darius Stone as a different xXx agent.
| Category | xXx (2002) | XXX: State of the Union (2005) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead agent | Vin Diesel as Xander Cage | Ice Cube as Darius Stone |
| Returning connective character | Augustus Gibbons, played by Samuel L. Jackson | Augustus Gibbons, played by Samuel L. Jackson |
| Director | Rob Cohen | Lee Tamahori |
| Primary setting and conflict | International action-adventure centered on Xander Cage | Washington, D.C., military conspiracy and attempted government seizure |
| Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer | 48% | 17% from 138 reviews |
| Worldwide box office | $267,200,000 | $71,073,932 |
The comparison figures come from Rotten Tomatoes and The Numbers’ film-finance data. The sequel’s new protagonist means viewers can understand the basic story without treating the film as another Vin Diesel/Xander Cage adventure.
Who plays the new xXx agent?
Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, the new xXx agent in XXX: State of the Union. Darius is presented as a former Navy SEAL with an extreme-sports background and a criminal record, making him a more hardened and institutionally complicated recruit than a conventional government operative.
Samuel L. Jackson returns as Augustus Gibbons, the NSA agent who recruits Stone. Willem Dafoe plays George Deckert, the senior military figure at the center of the conspiracy. The principal cast also includes Scott Speedman as Kyle Steele, Peter Strauss as President Sanford, and Xzibit as Zeke. The film’s reference credits and plot information provide the broader cast listing.
Is Vin Diesel in XXX: State of the Union?
Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage is not the lead character in XXX: State of the Union. Ice Cube takes over the xXx-agent role as Darius Stone, while Samuel L. Jackson’s Augustus Gibbons returns to connect the sequel to the 2002 original.
That casting change is the film’s defining franchise decision. Viewers expecting another Xander Cage story may find the sequel structurally different, while viewers willing to treat xXx as a designation passed to a new operative can approach it as a standalone action sequel.
How does the story unfold?
Spoiler-light setup: An attack on an underground NSA facility leaves Augustus Gibbons in need of an unconventional operative. Gibbons recruits Darius Stone, whose military experience, physical ability, and criminal past make him useful for a covert mission. Stone then investigates George Deckert and a conspiracy unfolding in Washington, D.C.
Full-spoiler outline: The film moves through Stone’s prison escape, his covert investigation of the conspiracy, and an escalating crisis tied to the Capitol and the attempted seizure of the U.S. government. The story culminates in a confrontation involving Deckert. Those plot developments are best avoided if you want to watch the film without knowing its later turns.
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Who directed and wrote XXX: State of the Union?
Lee Tamahori directed XXX: State of the Union, and Simon Kinberg wrote the screenplay. Tamahori followed Rob Cohen, who directed the original xXx, so the sequel changes both its lead performer and its director while retaining the broader action-spy premise.
What are the rating, runtime, and release date?
XXX: State of the Union was released theatrically in the United States on April 29, 2005. The film is rated PG-13 and runs approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. Rotten Tomatoes classifies it across action, adventure, mystery, and thriller categories.
Rank #3
The Numbers lists the rating rationale as “PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence and some language.” That description is a content note based on the rating and film-finance listing, not a separate editorial assessment.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| U.S. theatrical release | April 29, 2005 |
| Rating | PG-13 |
| Rating rationale | Sequences of intense action violence and some language |
| Runtime | Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Genres listed by Rotten Tomatoes | Action, adventure, mystery, thriller |
How did XXX: State of the Union perform with critics?
Critics responded unfavorably overall. According to Rotten Tomatoes page data for the 2005 film, XXX: State of the Union has a 17% Tomatometer score from 138 reviews. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus says: “Even more absurd and implausible than the first xXx movie, State of the Union is less inspired and technically competent than its predecessor.”
The critic score should not be treated as a claim that every audience member disliked the movie. The available reception data separates the critics’ measure from audience response. The film’s clearest appeal is its energetic action design, conspicuous stunts, Washington conspiracy framework, and Ice Cube’s presence as a different kind of action lead.
How much money did XXX: State of the Union make?
The Numbers reports $26,873,932 in domestic box office, $44,200,000 internationally, and $71,073,932 worldwide. The same database reports a $60,000,000 production budget and a $12,712,272 opening weekend.
| Financial measure | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Production budget | $60,000,000 |
| Opening weekend | $12,712,272 |
| Domestic box office | $26,873,932 |
| International box office | $44,200,000 |
| Worldwide box office | $71,073,932 |
These are reported gross and budget figures, not proof of net profitability. Marketing, distribution costs, financing, exhibitor splits, and other expenses are not included in the reported production-budget comparison.
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
Where can you watch or buy XXX: State of the Union?
Sony Pictures’ official title page lists XXX: State of the Union as available through Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD pathways and displays purchase links for iTunes and Amazon. Availability, price, seller, edition, and regional compatibility can change, so those details should be checked at the time of purchase rather than assumed from the older release listing.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf you want to revisit the film in a physical format, search for the XXX: State of the Union DVD or XXX: State of the Union Blu-ray; edition and seller availability can vary. The Numbers records the home-video release date as July 26, 2005, distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The official Sony Pictures release page is the strongest reference for the title’s home-video and digital purchase paths.
Does XXX: State of the Union have a soundtrack?
Yes. The XXX: State of the Union soundtrack was released on April 26, 2005, through Jive Records. It is a secondary purchase or research interest for soundtrack collectors and xXx fans, but the existence of the 2005 soundtrack release does not establish that a physical CD or vinyl edition is currently in stock.
The soundtrack reference listing documents the album release. A separate soundtrack database entry can help identify music associated with the film, but retailer availability requires a separate current check.
Is XXX: State of the Union worth watching?
XXX: State of the Union is worth watching if you want a fast, exaggerated 2000s action film built around stunts, military conspiracy, and Ice Cube’s Darius Stone. It is a less obvious choice for viewers seeking a tightly grounded spy thriller or a continuation of Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage story.
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The fairest expectation is to approach the movie as a standalone sequel: Samuel L. Jackson supplies continuity, but Ice Cube supplies the new protagonist, and the Washington political crisis supplies the central engine. The low 17% Tomatometer score indicates a strongly negative critical reception, while the film’s spectacle and franchise premise remain its clearest reasons to watch.
Best Value
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vin Diesel in XXX: State of the Union?
No. Vin Diesel’s Xander Cage is not the lead character in XXX: State of the Union. Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, a new xXx agent, while Samuel L. Jackson returns as Augustus Gibbons.
What is XXX: State of the Union about?
XXX: State of the Union is a standalone-style sequel about Darius Stone, a former Navy SEAL and ex-convict recruited by NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons to investigate an attack and stop a military conspiracy in Washington, D.C.
Where can I watch or buy XXX: State of the Union?
Yes. Sony Pictures lists XXX: State of the Union through Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD purchase pathways, including iTunes and Amazon links on its official title page. Current price, stock, edition, and regional compatibility should be checked before buying.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →When was XXX: State of the Union released, and what is its rating?
XXX: State of the Union was released theatrically in the United States on April 29, 2005. The film runs approximately 1 hour 40 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence and some language.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: XXX: State of the Union is a 2005 xXx sequel led by Ice Cube rather than Vin Diesel. It works best as an over-the-top standalone action film about a new agent, Darius Stone, recruited to stop a military conspiracy in Washington, D.C.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
