Mayday

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2:36

Mayday

PG-13

2026

1h 50m

Action

Adventure

Comedy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

105 Reviews

68%

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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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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Todd Gilchrist

Variety

Sep 4, 2026

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.

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Tatat Bunnag

Bangkok Post

1 day ago

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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Nick C

@RT69390184 2 days ago

Mayday is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. It feels like a genuine throwback to the classic comedies of the past, with a great callback to movies like Spies Like Us. The comedy is genuinely funny without feeling forced, and the action is absolutely top-notch. It’s rare to find a movie that balances comedy and action this well these days but Mayday nails it. It’s entertaining from beginning to end and has that old-school charm that so many modern movies seem to be missing. Highly recommended!

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Pb B

@RT25305242 3 days ago

A really enjoyable, mostly family friendly movie. It is a feel-good film that ends well in a hopeful tone. Finally a movie that isn’t filled with gratuitous sex scenes or over the top gratuitous violence and gore. There are a few F-bombs and swear words that were totally unnecessary. The story itself is good but it does read as a 2024 commentary about 1987 more than how people would have felt in 1987. There is one scene that pushes a gay-agenda and multiple, unnecessarily anti-government scenes about how America doesn’t really care for their people just the bottom line. Overall though, it has good messages about friendship, trust and loyalty. It does a good job humanizing the Russian people and showing commonalities and shared values across cultures. While ostensibly an action film, it also is a comedy that works well.

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Lael H

@RT25453608 3 days ago

Absolutely fantastic! We loved the balance of action and comedy without excessive profanity or nudity. Ryan Reynolds and his co star kept us laughing and holding onto our seats the whole way through. Then we immediately texted all my friends to go watch it. Great date night or family movie. More please!

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Andre B

@RT60663855 5 days ago

Nice touch from the directors, light but not slapstick.

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Neil M

@Neil-MacG 6 days ago

Surprisingly good. Plenty of humour, good acting and a preposterous plot. Well worth watching.

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Ryan S

@RT58198641 6 days ago

If you know anything about military aircraft specifically the SR-71 you will think this movie is garbage. If you are looking for a an action movie with Ryan Reynolds and his sarcastic banter this is for you.

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John Francis Daley

Director

Jonathan M. Goldstein

Director

Ryan Reynolds

Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly

Kenneth Branagh

Nikolai Ustinov

Marcin Dorociński

Actor

Maria Bakalova

Actor

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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