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Mayday

Play trailer 2:36 Poster for Mayday PG-13 2026 1h 50m Action Adventure Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 78 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh team up in "Mayday," a genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy that flips the spy thriller on its head. When hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly (Reynolds) is sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory at the height of the Cold War, the operation implodes, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. Discovered by Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent with a penchant for American culture, Troy thinks he's toast -- but could an unlikely alliance between the two lead to Troy's rescue and a bond neither saw coming?
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Mayday

Critics Reviews

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Todd Gilchrist Variety 1d
It’s a compliment to call "Mayday" a latter-day "Top Gun" riff, because it satisfyingly meets the needs of that film’s core audience — delivering a buddy comedy, a road movie and an international adventure, with surprising heart. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take 2d
2.5/4
A surprisingly brisk shot of silly escapism in which Sir Kenneth Branagh goes one on one with Ryan Reynolds for action and laughs and comes out on top. Go to Full Review
Lisa Kennedy New York Times 2d
In what becomes a plane, train and automobile (not in that order) chase flick, Reynolds once again asserts his gift for the understated one-liner. Branagh takes pleasure in Nikolai’s skill set and mind-set. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 7h
3/4
...a familiar yet predominantly agreeable endeavor that certainly receives plenty of mileage out of its strong performances... Go to Full Review
Hanna Flint IGN Movies 1d
7/10
Mayday doesn't get too deep in the weeds of political bureaucracy...and perhaps its conclusion is a little too rosy. But that's Hollywood for you; idealism trumping reality so you can leave with a little more hope and understanding than despair. Go to Full Review
John Urbancich JMuvies 1d
2/5
A buddy comedy that becomes as short on laughs as it is long on total nonsense. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Dave W @Huevos 1h I enjoyed seeing RR play the 'damsel in distress' and the filmmakers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein's re-tweaking of the buddy action genre. The film made me laugh and I enjoyed the chemistry from the two actors and it is great fun to see Branagh "spry" and kicking ass - I am in the Branagh camp, he can do no wrong for me and I loved seeing him stretch himself and excelling in this lane. It was also a very entertaining riff off Misery and Top Gun and the 80's cold war tropes - I cared about the characters and would see them gain in another offering. I would have been one of the ones to see it at the theatre, but it was a solid Friday night at home, I looked forward to it's premiere like I would Ted Lasso or Shrinking -so well done Apple TV. See more Sean G @RT82739805 1h Fantastically funny, a touch of emotion, genuine easy watching with good laughs. See more Robert E @bobfreengel 1h An adventure comedy very enjoyable. See more Nevander B @Nevander 3h This movie was fun, interesting, a great look back at the cold war and really just entertaining from start to finish. Throw in Reynolds humor and it was a real kick to watch. Considering how much crap comes out of the streaming services these days, this was a quality entertaining movie that would have been just as fun to watch on the big screen as at home. Not sure why people not giving this a better rating but maybe chalk it up to too many gen Z giving their ignorant, critical views of things that trigger them because it references a time before the internet and their short lives, essentially anything pre 21st century. See more Michael B @MichaelCBryan 3h I do not trust anybody that doesn’t like this movie. They don’t know good movie making if they don’t enjoy it. The fight scenes the pacing the writing the humor. Bullseye! Apple really screwed up when they didn’t put this in the theater. If any review you read does not give it a spectacular review then their taste for movies is crap and Kenneth Branagh is amazing . You can’t take your eyes off of him. See more Stevie F @RT99966544 3h Brilliant film The stars bounce off each other The effects are great as is the script Absolutely recommended to anyone with a sense of humor See more Read all reviews
Mayday

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Mayday

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh team up in "Mayday," a genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy that flips the spy thriller on its head. When hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly (Reynolds) is sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory at the height of the Cold War, the operation implodes, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. Discovered by Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent with a penchant for American culture, Troy thinks he's toast -- but could an unlikely alliance between the two lead to Troy's rescue and a bond neither saw coming?
Director
John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein
Producer
David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Ashley Fox, Johnny Pariseau, Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Screenwriter
John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein
Distributor
Apple TV
Production Co
Skydance Media, Apple Original Films, Maximum Effort
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 4, 2026
Runtime
1h 50m
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