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When a U.S. Navy pilot on a top-secret mission during the Cold War gets trapped behind enemy lines, his only chance at survival is to form an alliance with an eccentric ex-KGB agent.
Critic Consensus
Critical reception for Mayday is moderately positive, with reviewers broadly finding it an entertaining, well-crafted throwback to action-comedy genre conventions. Kenneth Branagh's eccentric performance and the odd-couple dynamic between the leads are frequently highlighted as standout elements, while the film's period setting, comic timing, and action sequences earn consistent praise. The most common reservation is that the film's attempts at political commentary feel underdeveloped compared to its stronger genre instincts, though no critic found it a significant failure.
3 reviews · 3 positive
AI-generated summary of 3 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyCritic Reviews (5)
Updated"At close to two hours, the film makes for a succinct, entertaining watch with all the bromance, humour and stunts that make this action-comedy a fun watch."Read full review ↗
"Co-directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the period comedy plays off Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh's odd couple energy."Read full review ↗
"Kenneth Branagh's eccentric turn gives the Apple TV buddy adventure its sharpest edge."Read full review ↗
"A surprisingly sensitive entertainer that uses Cold War tensions and geopolitical mistrust as a backdrop for a thoughtful exploration of how propaganda shapes our perceptions, while delivering effective action sequences and genuine humor."Read full review ↗
"Still, Mayday is too well made to leave you entirely cold. Daley and Goldstein know nostalgia works best when it has something tangible to cling to, which is why the film's period technology and gleeful action movie abandon have considerably more life than its attempts at political commentary. Still, there is enough craft, comic timing and genuine affection for the genre here to make the nostalgia feel like a perfectly enjoyable throwback."Read full review ↗
Cast & Crew
Cast
- Ryan Reynolds · Troy Kelly
- Kenneth Branagh · Nikolai Ustinov
- Marcin Dorociński · Alexander Volkov
- Maria Bakalova · Anna Ustinov
- David Morse · Harold Kelly
- Clark Johnson · CDR Keith Hardwick
- Wendy Crewson · Assistant Director Karen Meadows
- Louis Cancelmi · Maj Pete Sanders
- Josh Hamilton · Consul General Dan Hennessy
- Alex Mallari Jr. · Danny 'Longshot' Bowers
- Alden Adair · James 'Mullet' Mullen
- Lovell Adams-Gray · Tomas 'Boomer' Garcia
- Donald Sales · Captain S. Anderton
- John Francis Daley · LSO
- Robert Crooks · Air Boss #1
- Lorrie Odom · Nurse
- Jean Bernard · Bouncer
- Vadim Kroll · Belsky
- Andrei Kovski · Yuri
- Alexander Drojjine · Lev
Music
Cinematography
Editing
Art Director
Costume Design
Casting
Sound
Producer
Executive Producer
Details
- Release Date
- 2 September 2026
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Language
- English
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