Apple Original Films will premiere its action comedy Mayday globally on Apple TV on Friday, September 4, 2026, the company announced during its 2026 Apple TV Press Day. The film stars Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh as a mismatched pair forced to work together during the Cold War.
Reynolds and Branagh announced the release date themselves at the press event. Apple confirmed the date through its official @AppleTV account on X, stating: ‘#Mayday. Coming September 4 to Apple TV.’
Plot and Setting
Set in 1987 during the final years of the Cold War, Mayday follows hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy ‘Assassin’ Kelly. He is sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory, but the operation collapses when his plane collides with a Russian fighter jet.
Stranded behind enemy lines, Troy is discovered by Nikolai Ustinov, a gruff ex-KGB agent with a strong interest in American culture. The two form an unlikely alliance as they try to escape Soviet territory.
The official synopsis describes the film as a genre-bending, action-packed buddy comedy that flips the spy thriller on its head.
Cast and Crew
Alongside Reynolds and Branagh, the ensemble cast includes Maria Bakalova as Anna Ustinov, Marcin Dorocinski as Alexander Volkov, David Morse as Harold Kelly, Clark Johnson as Keith Hardwick, Wendy Crewson as Karen Meadows, and Louis Cancelmi.
John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein wrote, directed, and produced the film. The pair previously co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming and directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Mayday is an Apple Original Film from Skydance Media. Producers include David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger for Skydance, and Ashley Fox and Johnny Pariseau for Maximum Effort. Reynolds and George Dewey executive produce through Maximum Effort, along with John G. Scotti.
Trailer and First Look
Apple unveiled a first-look image for Mayday on February 3, 2026. The photo shows Reynolds and Branagh lying disheveled in the snow, looking exhausted.
The official trailer was released on July 14, 2026. It opens with Reynolds’ character crashing his plane behind enemy lines and being nursed back to health by Branagh’s America-obsessed former KGB officer. The trailer also shows the two bonding over McDonald’s.
The film carries a PG-13 rating and has a runtime of 110 minutes.
World Premiere
Apple Original Films hosted the world premiere of Mayday on the evening of September 1, 2026, at AMC Lincoln Square in New York City. Attendees included Reynolds, Branagh, Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorocinski, Louis Cancelmi, Wendy Crewson, directors Daley and Goldstein, and other members of the cast and crew.
Critical Reception
Mayday received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 83% approval rating based on over 100 reviews, making it Reynolds’ best-reviewed starring film in over a decade.
Critics praised the chemistry between Reynolds and Branagh, the action set pieces, and the film’s throwback feel to 1980s buddy comedies. The film debuted with an 81% critic score ahead of its streaming release, according to ScreenRant.
Audience reception was more mixed. With over 100 ratings, Mayday debuted with a 66% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. That marked Reynolds’ lowest audience score in six years since 6 Underground.
Streaming Performance
Mayday quickly became a major success for Apple TV. According to data from Luminate, the film opened at No. 1 in U.S. weekly streaming rankings for September 4–10 with 8.7 million views. It remained strong in its second week, placing at No. 2.
Apple reported that Mayday became the platform’s biggest film premiere in its first 18 days. The film also topped Apple TV charts in 101 countries, according to FlixPatrol.
As of early October 2026, Mayday remained the No. 1 movie on Apple TV both in the U.S. and worldwide. It held the top spot for multiple consecutive weeks after its September 4 release.
The film’s success came during a record-breaking week for Apple TV overall, driven by Mayday, the Emmy-winning comedy Ted Lasso, and other titles. Apple TV claimed its largest weekly viewership ever during this period.
What’s Next
Mayday will face new competition on Apple TV when Matchbox: The Movie, starring John Cena, premieres on October 9, 2026. Whether the Reynolds-Branagh action comedy can maintain its chart position after that date remains to be seen.