Mayday

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2:36

Mayday

PG-13

2026

1h 50m

Action

Adventure

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ 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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Critics Consensus

A spirited adventure that gets a lot of mileage from clever quips and Kenneth Branagh's extremely amusing performance, Mayday thaws Cold War tensions with good-natured aplomb.

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Audience Says

Ryan Reynolds’ signature snark charms some while wearing on others, but Kenneth Branagh’s dry wit keeps this ’80s Cold War comedy on course.

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Jill Rowbotham

The Australian

Oct 15, 2026

3/5

Ignore the loose knitting and Mayday is OK entertainment for a lazy Sunday.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Sep 9, 2026

3/5

Ryan Reynolds’ perma-Deadpool edge of slick sarcasm isn’t for me, but it’s put to great use in this Cold War buddy comedy from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Dungeons and Dragons).

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Matt Goldberg

TheWrap

Sep 6, 2026

3/5

The new Daley & Goldstein isn’t the most narratively audacious movie, but it’s a strong reminder that even a streaming comedy can look as good as any blockbuster

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Tatat Bunnag

Bangkok Post

Oct 9, 2026

I had a good time with Mayday.

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Michael Cook

KLRT-TV

Sep 25, 2026

This is a classic buddy movie, the difference is they're being chased by the KGB. The buddy aspect between Branagh & Reynolds holds up well, the action is well-paced, and there are a few quiet moments, but they serve the overall story.

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Jinal Bhatt

Variety India

Sep 23, 2026

3.5/5

The match-step bromance between Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, in a film that's written to let them play to their strengths, and the "Top Gun" nods and 80s nostalgia ultimately make this a fun flight worth taking.

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Akanksha M

@RT77780097 3 days ago

Such a fun movie! Great job by Reynolds and Branagh! I want to see a part 2 where they road trip in the US!

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Julian H

@JDH1965 4 days ago

Good fun, great chemistry, enjoyed it a lot!

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Leona F

@RT19907505 5 days ago

Suspend belief and this is a fun, entertaining movie

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STEPHEN P

@IslandAdventurer 6 days ago

Apple follows a "Formula" for many of its shows. There is never a doubt about good and bad, and there is never conflict within a character. Ryan R, Like Vice Vaughn, uses a low level of sarcasm in almost every line, then stops to look very serious at pictures of fallen heroes. Way too corny and way too predictable. Lazy writing and lazy acting.

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Scott K

@SDK9002 6 days ago

Surprisingly good. I contrast this fun, low stakes but well produced and written film compared to the bloated, meandering juggernaut "Disclosure Day" that I watched last night. Mayday a 7.5…Spielberg’s miscue a 5.

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Jaz K

@jazkenyon Oct 24, 2026

Enjoyed its preposterousness! Reynolds and Branagh bounce well off each other! Quite a few laughs!

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John Francis Daley

Director

Jonathan M. Goldstein

Director

Ryan Reynolds

Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly

Kenneth Branagh

Nikolai Ustinov

Marcin Dorociński

Alexander Volkov

Maria Bakalova

Anna Ustinov

Mayday: Exclusive Sneak Peek Clip - Tracking Evasion

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Mayday: Trailer 1

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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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