Mayday 2026 Movie Review: Sir Kenneth Branagh Delivers an Action-Comedy Tour de Force in Apple’s Mayday

Lucky 13 Review

MAYDAY

Directed by John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Streaming Review

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Bring Big-Budget Blockbuster Polish to Apple's Mayday

★★★★☆ Lucky 13 Rating

Manifest Flight Metrics

Streaming Release Date: September 4, 2026

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Tomatometer Score: 80% Certified Fresh

Popcornmeter Score: 68% Audience Approval

Letterboxd Score: 3.2 / 5  Stars

Official Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

Official Case Brief

Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh team up in a genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy that flips the classic spy thriller completely on its head. When hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly is deployed on a top-secret mission into dangerous Russian territory at the height of the Cold War, the operation violently implodes, leaving him entirely stranded behind enemy lines. Discovered by Nikolai Ustinov, a gruff, eccentric ex-KGB agent with an unexpected penchant for American pop culture, Troy thinks he is absolute toast. Instead, this highly volatile and unlikely alliance sparks an erratic rescue chase where bonds of loyalty form across a wilderness neither performer saw coming.

Official Ensemble

• Ryan Reynolds as Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly
• Kenneth Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov
• Maria Bakalova as Secret operative
• Marcin Dorociński as Syndicate Agent

Official Crew Section

Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Screenplay Writers: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Lead Producers: David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Ashley Fox, Johnny Pariseau, Jonathan M. Goldstein, John Francis Daley

Production Companies: Skydance Media, Apple Original Films, Maximum Effort

Distributor Platform: Apple TV Plus

Behind the Lens Spotlight

Co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein bring their signature, highly praised sub-genre subversion to the streaming landscape, letting the cold war espionage tropes collide smoothly with a crisp road-trip comedy aesthetic. Filmed primarily across industrial sets in Montreal, Canada, the production utilizes rapid panning camera work and high-utility tracking shots to capture the frantic evasion sequences. By leaning heavily into physical, practical set tracking rather than empty green screens, the visual layout lets the chemistry between the primary performers explode naturally across the screen landscape.

Production Logistics

Constructed under a premium partnership banner between Skydance Media, Apple Original Films, and Maximum Effort, the highly anticipated streaming vehicle locked down its official worldwide debut on Apple TV Plus on September 4, 2026. The script, written and polished directly by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, traces high-altitude action set pieces with crisp, character-driven buddy dynamics. Backed by elite producers David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, the final film successfully capitalizes on massive global star power to anchor a major autumn blockbusting release.

Official Trailer

Ray's  Thoughts

Arguably one of the most decorated and yet uniquely underrated living actors working in mainstream cinema today is the brilliant performer and director Sir Kenneth Branagh. While he has spent recent years thoroughly entertaining global audiences with his sumptuously staged trilogy of Agatha Christie mystery adaptations as the meticulous detective Hercule Poirot, Branagh originally made his indelible mark on Hollywood history with his critically acclaimed, fiercely passionate Shakespearean adaptations. Across an incredibly long and varied career spanning multiple generations, it remains highly intriguing that Branagh does not really possess a single, definitive signature role. This absence is perhaps the ultimate testament to his tremendous dramatic range and his chameleonic ability to seamlessly disappear into a character to purely serve the needs of the narrative. However, the action comedy Mayday, brilliantly directed by the filmmaking team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley of Game Night fame, operates as an extraordinary showcase that perfectly highlights Branagh's organic, affable nature and his sharp dramatic abilities.

The minimalist script positions Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov, a gruff ex-KGB officer who unexpectedly steps in to aid a downed, vulnerable American fighter pilot trapped deep behind enemy lines in 1987. Ryan Reynolds steps into the cockpit to play another highly stylized, charismatic version of his trademark, rapid-fire witty smart-aleck persona as Lieutenant Troy Kelly. Teamed up directly with Branagh's stoic demeanor, the duo constructs an exceptionally entertaining, highly dynamic buddy-film relationship. Despite the undeniable witty charm and magnetic screen presence that Reynolds brings to the frame, the true star of the entire film is undeniably Branagh. The legendary actor displays an incredible, brand-new facet of his performing toolkit by effortlessly stepping into the shoes of a legitimate action hero, executing highly impressive, physically demanding fight choreography throughout the runtime.

Even more surprising than his physical prowess is the realization that Branagh displays astonishing comic chops that frequently exceed even the seasoned comedic charms of Reynolds. Portraying a deeply patriotic Russian citizen who simultaneously worships American pop culture, Branagh masterfully nails every single comedic beat while projecting a naive, intensely affable charm that makes his character profoundly endearing to the audience. It stands as a genuine tour de force performance that serves as a powerful reminder of Branagh’s tremendous, untapped versatility. One could easily argue that an acting showcase of this elite caliber feels somewhat excessive for a streaming title, but the exact same compliment can be applied to the structural scale of the entire movie. Mayday is yet another extraordinarily high-quality streaming feature that brings the exact visual sheen, technical polish, and massive scope of a traditional big-budget Hollywood theatrical blockbuster.

The production features truly tremendous action set pieces, highlighting breathless, high-altitude aerial combat sequences alongside punishing, visceral hand-to-hand combat choreography that rivals the absolute biggest theatrical releases of the year. If that technical showmanship is not already enough, Mayday also infuses its narrative with a tremendous amount of genuine heart. A beautifully integrated father-daughter subplot involving Branagh and Academy Award nominee Maria Bakalova injects a touching, emotionally grounded weight into the second act, raising the stakes of the final extraction mission.

Mayday functions as a brilliant, nostalgic throwback to classic nineteen-eighties buddy-action landmarks, updating the sub-genre with a crisp, modern comedic aesthetic. The script is packed with highly affectionate tributes to iconic genre touchstones like Top Gun and Red Heat, even finding time to thread in a quick, hilariously tense Misery style sequence. Rather than operating as a simple carbon copy of the past, however, Mayday fully deserves to be celebrated on its own merits as an incredibly enjoyable, visually impressive, and highly affable action-comedy triumph.

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Final Flight Verdict

★★★★☆

Mayday is a brilliantly balanced, high-octane streaming triumph that honors classic nineteen-eighties buddy-action landmarks while infusing them with a sharp, modern comedic aesthetic. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley create a visually stunning blockbuster that brings a theatrical sheen to the home screen, executing breathtaking aerial combat and visceral hand-to-hand fight choreography. While Ryan Reynolds delivers his signature charming wit, the production belongs entirely to Sir Kenneth Branagh, who turns in an absolute tour de force by matching surprising physical action prowess with a naive, laugh-out-loud affable charm. Enhanced by a touching father-daughter subplot alongside Maria Bakalova, this premium Apple Original feature provides immense heart and top-tier entertainment, proving to be a standalone masterclass in studio-level escapism.

Flight Secrets & Trivia

• The action project represents a highly anticipated creative milestone for directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, continuing their incredible streak of clever ensemble blockbusters like Game Night.
• Sir Kenneth Branagh thoroughly threw himself into the physicality of the role, deliberately tailoring his vocal inflections to create an authentic, richly textured Russian accent that anchors the comedic tone.
• The production represents a prominent international crossover reunion, locking in celebrated character actors like Marcin Dorocinski and Maria Bakalova to build out the high-stakes Cold War espionage world.
• The structural pacing of the script is explicitly designed as a plane, train, and automobile style tracking chase flick, ensuring that the visual environments shift fluidly across the runtime.