Critics Review Apple TV+ Action-Comedy 'Mayday' Starring Reynolds and Branagh

Critics have praised the Apple TV+ release of "Mayday," highlighting the strong on-screen chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh in the Cold War-era buddy comedy. While acknowledging its familiar genre conventions, reviewers agree the film offers a witty and consistently entertaining experience.

2 Sept, 16:00 — 2 Sept, 16:00

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Why this matters

The release highlights Apple TV+'s ongoing strategy to compete with traditional studios by acquiring mid-budget, star-driven films originally intended for theatrical distribution. As streaming platforms navigate shifting content economics and industry consolidation, the project exemplifies how legacy talent adapts to digital-first models while platforms seek prestige and subscriber growth.

Key entitiesRyan Reynolds Kenneth Branagh Jonathan Goldstein John Francis Daley Apple TV+Skydance Soviet Russia

Source Diversity

High (63/100)

5 sources33/33

Spectrum spread— 3/5 buckets covered17/33

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Far Left (1)

The Guardian

Left3

Left (3)

globe-and-mailhollywood-reporterdeadline

Center1

Center (1)

screen-rant

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Geographic diversity— 3 regions13/34

US3UK1Canada1

Sources

Showing 5 of 5 sources

The GuardianMostly Factual47m ago

Mayday review – Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh set cold war bromance alight

An American fighter pilot teams up with a retired KGB officer for hijinks and hilarity in Soviet Russia Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh star in this goofy but entertaining action-comedy bromance set in the cold war 80s, when it seemed every red-blooded young guy in America adored Top Gun and wanted to be a US Navy fighter pilot. It’s got some outrageous close-quarter fight scenes – and who knew Branagh could bust out martial arts moves? Is he going to follow Bob Odenkirk into an unexpected ...

By Peter Bradshaw

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globe-and-mailHigh47m ago

Apple TV’s witty Mayday puts Ryan Reynolds exactly where he belongs: behind enemy lines

Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley’s fast-paced buddy comedy follows a U.S. Air Force pilot who crash lands in Soviet-era Russia

By Barry Hertz

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hollywood-reporterMostly Factual47m ago

‘Mayday’ Review: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Have Infectious Chemistry in Derivative but Diverting Apple TV Action-Comedy

Maria Baklova also appears in this film about an American pilot trapped in Soviet Russia and the ex-KGB agent who helps him.

By Frank Scheck

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deadlineMostly Factual47m ago

‘Mayday’ Review: Kenneth Branagh Steals The Show From Top Gun Ryan Reynolds In Skydance And Apple’s Wild Buddy Action Comedy That Should Have Been In Theatres

David Ellison keeps pledging that both Paramount and Warner Bros. will release 30 movies a year each if the infamous ParaBros merger goes through. Hopefully they will even be good movies. That would be nice. But with Skydance and David Ellison as producers of the raucously entertaining, big scale, star-driven action comedy, Mayday they have […]

By Pete Hammond

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screen-rantMixed47m ago

Mayday Review: Fun, Creative Buddy Comedy Isn't Just Blind '80s Nostalgia

It's a little too hemmed in to be truly great, but Apple TV's new action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh has more than enough life.

By SR Staff

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Coverage Timeline

First report: globe-and-mail · 2 Sept, 16:00|Full coverage: 5 · 0m|Window: 0m

globe-and-mail2 Sept, 16:00First to report

Apple TV’s witty Mayday puts Ryan Reynolds exactly where he belongs: behind enemy lines

hollywood-reporter2 Sept, 16:00

‘Mayday’ Review: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Have Infectious Chemistry in Derivative but Diverting Apple TV Action-Comedy

deadline2 Sept, 16:00

‘Mayday’ Review: Kenneth Branagh Steals The Show From Top Gun Ryan Reynolds In Skydance And Apple’s Wild Buddy Action Comedy That Should Have Been In Theatres

screen-rant2 Sept, 16:00

Mayday Review: Fun, Creative Buddy Comedy Isn't Just Blind '80s Nostalgia

The Guardian2 Sept, 16:00Latest update

Critics Review Apple TV+ Action-Comedy 'Mayday' Starring Reynolds and Branagh

Why this matters

Source Diversity

Source Diversity

Sources

Mayday review – Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh set cold war bromance alight

Apple TV’s witty Mayday puts Ryan Reynolds exactly where he belongs: behind enemy lines

‘Mayday’ Review: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Have Infectious Chemistry in Derivative but Diverting Apple TV Action-Comedy

‘Mayday’ Review: Kenneth Branagh Steals The Show From Top Gun Ryan Reynolds In Skydance And Apple’s Wild Buddy Action Comedy That Should Have Been In Theatres

Mayday Review: Fun, Creative Buddy Comedy Isn't Just Blind '80s Nostalgia

Coverage Timeline

Apple TV’s witty Mayday puts Ryan Reynolds exactly where he belongs: behind enemy lines

‘Mayday’ Review: Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh Have Infectious Chemistry in Derivative but Diverting Apple TV Action-Comedy

‘Mayday’ Review: Kenneth Branagh Steals The Show From Top Gun Ryan Reynolds In Skydance And Apple’s Wild Buddy Action Comedy That Should Have Been In Theatres

Mayday Review: Fun, Creative Buddy Comedy Isn't Just Blind '80s Nostalgia

Mayday review – Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh set cold war bromance alight

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