'Mayday' Review: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Are a Dynamite Duo in Apple TV's Explosive Action Epic

Ryan Reynolds Finally Shows a Different Side in Apple TV's Action Thriller 'Mayday'| Review Image via Apple TV Published Sep 2, 2026, 12:04 PM EDT In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider's features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University. Despite making their directorial debut with the ill-fated Vacation reboot, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have officially cemented themselves as two of the most exciting filmmakers working in the industry today. In addition to showing off their screenwriting prowess with hit films like Horrible Bosses and Spider-Man: Homecoming, the duo have also more than proven themselves in the director's chairs. Their second feature, 2018's Game Night, was a witty comedy that became an instant cult classic, and 2023's Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is so good that it should have been the start of the next great fantasy franchise. Goldstein and Daley will soon helm their biggest project yet, a feature film reboot of the Star Trek franchise. But before that, they've teamed up with Apple TV for Mayday, an ambitious '80s-set action-comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Some filmmakers would crumble under the weight of the immense pressure of working with such big names on such a big project, but Goldstein and Daley have crafted yet another impeccable gem that is all but guaranteed to be Apple TV's next big sleeper hit. What Is 'Mayday' About? Set in 1987 at the height of the Cold War, Mayday follows U.S. Navy fighter pilot Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly (Reynolds) — a cocky airman straight out of the original Top Gun — who is recruited by the government for a top-secret spy mission over Soviet Russia. As the title implies, it doesn't take long for things to go awry, and Kelly soon finds himself smack-dab in the middle of enemy territory, thanks to a deadly crash landing. Luckily for him, Kelly is rescued by Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh) — an American pop culture-loving Russian citizen who wants to defect to the U.S. What starts as a partnership based around survival turns into an unexpected friendship, as Troy and Nik work together to escape Soviet Russia with the KGB hot on their trail. With a cold open that is near-identical to a certain aforementioned Tom Cruise classic, Mayday initially almost feels a little bit too similar to Top Gun. However, it soon becomes apparent that this is by design, as Mayday is essentially a giant love letter to the action hits of the '80s Cold War era. Not only does it have the witty banter of Top Gun, but it also boasts the high stakes of Die Hard, the refreshing charisma of Lethal Weapon, and the inventive action sequences of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Where Mayday perhaps improves on that era is in its refreshing level of nuance when it comes to the Cold War. While it is a tongue-in-cheek action comedy at its core, the film refuses to portray the U.S. as the ultimate good guys or Russia as a definitive force of evil, as was so common in '80s fills. Instead, Goldstein and Daley make the wise decision to approach each character as an individual — in addition to Troy and Nik, we encounter Maria Bakalova in a very small but still very human role as a Russian citizen fighting for a better world, and Marcin Dorocinski as a government bigwig who, rather than being a one-dimensional bad guy, has some fairly interesting motivations. Kenneth Branagh Proves He's an Action Star in 'Mayday' Image via Apple TV Given his starring role in the Deadpool movies, one might expect Ryan Reynolds to be the main action hero in Mayday. But in a somewhat ironic twist, it's his Thor director co-star Branagh who really gets to shine in that category instead, taking the lead in the film's many well-choreographed fight scenes. Branagh's Nik getting the spotlight makes more sense in the context of the film — being a pilot, Reynolds' character would not be the most proficient hand-to-hand combatant, while a former KGB officer would be — and Branagh proves to be more than capable as he takes down thugs in a bar with the grace and efficiency of John Wick himself. Reynolds and Branagh also have phenomenal chemistry throughout the entire film. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, given Reynolds' propensity for the buddy cop genre of movies. But he does rein in the quippiness to a refreshing amount, acting as the straight man to Branagh's eccentric Russian fighter. Nikolai also has to be one of Branagh's best and most entertaining characters since he first brought Hercule Poirot to life; Nik is an entertaining force of both action and comedy from beginning to end. 'Mayday' Boasts Some of the Most Inventive Action Sequences of 2026 Image via Apple TV Kenneth Branagh's surprising adeptness in the film's various set pieces may make him Mayday's biggest star in front of the camera, but massive credit also needs to be given behind the scenes to cinematographer Barry Peterson. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley have always had a marvelous eye for cinematography (i.e. Game Night's wide shots that look like pieces of a game board, or Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' elaborate castle escape oner). That trend continues in Mayday, with a litany of shots in the already well-choreographed action sequences that will leave audiences wondering, "How did they do that?" There may be a handful of moments that rely just a smidge too much on CGI, but it's ultimately a nitpick considering it's only apparent in scenes where digital effects had to be used. The hand-to-hand scenes are largely approached with a practical lens, and the movie is all the better for it. An old-school bar fight and an elaborate train chase where Troy and Nikolai have to evade dozens of soldiers in multiple cars are just a few of the film's thrilling action sequences. Goldstein and Daley once again continue to surprise and impress. Reynolds and Branagh are an excellent duo, the action set pieces they star in are even more excellent, and all of it is brought to life with smart writing and a talent for filmmaking. It truly gives Reynolds' time in the Marvel universe a run for its money, as it's easy to call his pairing with Branagh here one of the best action movies of 2026. Mayday premieres September 4 on Apple TV. Release Date September 4, 2026 Runtime 110 minutes Director John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein Pros & Cons Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are a dynamite duo. Branagh gets to flex his action muscles in brilliant ways. Some of the best action direction and cinematography of the year. Doesn't try to dumb down the Cold War despite being an action comedy.