At the very least, you can appreciate Apple TV’s Mayday’s affection for, and nostalgia for, the ’80s action-film genre. It clearly appreciates a decade of movies known for heartfelt comedies and larger-than-life summer popcorn spectacles. The streaming film is more than willing to laugh at the excesses of Reagan-era cinema with self-deprecating humor.
The new film also has a wonderful sense of humor about itself, often letting its characters make fun of themselves rather than others. That isn’t particularly surprising, considering Mayday comes from the team behind the critically beloved Game Night and the criminally underseen Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
That said, the movie runs a bit long, folding in a useless scene with a noteworthy star that screams studio contractual obligation. It’s also not exactly fresh, and its nostalgia isn’t sharp enough in spots. Yet Mayday depends heavily on the chemistry and likability of its leads. On that front, it exceeds expectations, especially considering how odd the pairing seems to begin with.
What is Apple TV’s Mayday about?
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
Ryan Reynolds in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
Marcin Dorocinski in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
Set in 1987, Troy Kelly (Ryan Reynolds), a naval aviator with the call sign “Assassin,” is chosen to fly a top-secret mission for the United States government. Kelly is set to fly a spy plane over the Soviet Union, with an arrogant partner (The Penguin‘s Louis Cancelmi), who thinks the flag on his arm makes him better than the MiG-29 currently chasing him over Russian airspace.
Well, that and the fact that they’re flying at high altitude in a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which, in military aviation terms, is basically the equivalent of Cold War engineering pornography. Unfortunately, the mission hits a snag, and by snag, I mean some hot Mikoyan-Gurevich lead. That’s not as dirty as it sounds; the aircraft was named after the leader.
The attack kills Troy’s pilot, leaving the Reconnaissance Systems Officer to bail. The RSO finds himself behind enemy lines without Owen Wilson or Steve McQueen to help. Instead, Kelly is rescued by Nikolai Ustinov (Thor‘s Kenneth Branagh), a former KGB officer seeking asylum, who bonds with the American over Top Gun and thinks Troy can provide that freedom.
Apple TV’s Mayday Review
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
Mayday is from the writing and directing team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who wrote Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Their latest is a high-concept, character-driven buddy comedy. Now, many say this, but what do we mean? Their script turns a buddy comedy into an action thriller built around character juxtaposition.
The movie is fun, with Reynolds’ comedic charm and Branagh’s deadpan delivery turning almost every predicament into a comparison with Maverick and Goose’s experiences in Top Gun. The back-and-forth banter is rooted in irreverence and a growing affection for these characters. Yes, we call these high concept, and while enjoyable, it’s nothing we really haven’t seen before.
And that goes down the line, from top to bottom. Is Reynolds playing the same variation of himself? Of course, but we love him for it. Do they tie in all three tropes of hotshot military pilot, mismatched pairing, and mission gone wrong? Yes, but how do you think we develop cliches? Because they work. Then there’s the genre mashup instead of something genuinely new.
Is Apple TV’s Mayday worth watching?
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in Mayday (2026) | Image via Apple TV
The second act has some transition issues, resorting to contrived plot points to move the story along. For example, an intelligence officer (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’s Marcin Dorociński) chases down the duo and eventually catches them; it’s as if it’s never been easier to trek through deadly tundra and travel across the world’s largest country completely unscathed.
It’s hard to understand why Goldstein and Daley couldn’t find more organic ways to write themselves out of the corners they create. Including Maria Bakalova as Nikolai’s daughter does nothing but waste time and only dips their toes into establishing warm, family moments that would be worthwhile. And that’s a shame, because there was something there to dig into.
Still, the strong production values, self-aware ’80s nostalgia, cultural-clash comedy, and arresting action sequences pair well with the leads’ chemistry. Not to mention, Branagh more than holds his own in the laughs department, which was a surprise. Mayday is far from perfect, but it’s charming, engaging, and funny enough to earn a mild recommendation, even if you may forget about it soon after it’s over.
You can stream the new film Mayday exclusively on Apple TV starting September 4th!
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