Apple TV’s latest original film, Mayday, made a splashy debut on September 4, 2026, inviting viewers into a whirlwind of Cold War intrigue, action-comedy antics, and a surprising dash of philosophical reflection. Starring Ryan Reynolds as Troy Kelley, a cocky U.S. Navy pilot, and Kenneth Branagh as the eccentric ex-KGB agent Nikolai "Nick" Ustinov, the film offers more than just the expected shootouts and spy games. It’s a clever homage to 1980s blockbusters—think Top Gun with a wink and a nudge—and a sly commentary on the cultural clash between East and West.
Set in 1987, during the waning years of the Soviet Union under Gorbachev, Mayday opens with Troy assigned to pilot a sleek SR-71 Blackbird on a high-stakes reconnaissance mission over Russian territory. What could go wrong? Well, a lot, apparently. After a pulse-pounding aerial sequence (that owes more than a little to Top Gun: Maverick), Troy is shot down and crash lands deep behind enemy lines. Injured and alone, he stumbles into the remote woodland home of Nick, a bearded, larger-than-life Russian with a love for all things American—particularly capitalism, Bruce Springsteen, and, somewhat hilariously, McDonald’s.
Nick, played by Branagh with infectious glee and a purposely over-the-top Russian accent, is not your garden-variety Cold War villain. He’s a man caught between two worlds: a former KGB operator who now dreams of the American lifestyle he’s only glimpsed through pop culture. His favorite movie? Top Gun, naturally. His ultimate fantasy? To eat a Big Mac in the U.S. As Nick tells Troy, "I dream of someday eating McDonald’s." (According to Decider.)
The unlikely duo quickly strike a deal—if Nick helps Troy escape to Finland, Troy will use his connections to secure Nick’s passage to the United States. Thus begins a series of wild escapades, each more outrageous than the last, as they dodge Soviet authorities, improvise their way through sticky situations, and bond over their shared love of 80s Americana. The movie is packed with references to the era’s action flicks, and even the characters themselves are in on the joke: as noted by The Playlist, "it’s a Top Gun homage in which all of the characters have seen Top Gun."
But Mayday isn’t content to simply lampoon the tropes of its genre. Beneath the surface-level fun, the film weaves in a thoughtful—if sometimes cheeky—exploration of the ideological divide between collectivism and individualism. Early on, Troy delivers a line that sets the tone: "Collectivism is always at the cost of individual freedom," he declares to his Navy buddies during a night out. The statement is a bit too philosophical for a drunken pilot, but it signals the movie’s intent to at least flirt with deeper questions.
The contrast between Troy’s American self-reliance and Nick’s communal Russian values comes to a head in a scene where the pair, cold and hungry, seek shelter at a poor Russian family’s home. Nick knocks, asks for help, and—much to Troy’s shock—they’re welcomed in and fed. When Troy, bewildered, asks why the family would share their meager food, Nick innocently replies, "If someone came to the door in America and asked for help, wouldn’t they be taken in?" Troy’s nervous, "Of course they would!" gets a laugh, but as Decider points out, the joke lands with a stinging truth: the American ideal of rugged individualism often means keeping one’s resources to oneself, sometimes at the expense of neighborly compassion.
This moment, subtle yet sharp, is as close as Mayday gets to critiquing the American ethos. Later, Troy admits his country isn’t "perfect," though the film doesn’t dwell on specifics. Still, the point is made: sometimes, the collectivist spirit Troy initially mocks is the very thing that saves him.
Director duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, known for their work on Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, keep the pace brisk and the tone light, balancing slapstick with sly social commentary. The action sequences are energetic and easy to follow, with fluid camerawork that lets the stunts and set pieces shine. As The Playlist notes, "Shots pass through walls and over ceilings, flip over themselves and the characters, and generally give room for the action beats and stunt performances to come through rather than shredding them in coverage."
Branagh’s performance is a particular highlight, bringing both humor and heart to his role as Nick. As The Playlist observes, he’s "funnier and looser here than he’s been in ages, palpably having a terrific time rehashing his Tenet Russian accent and getting most of the best jokes." Reynolds, meanwhile, reigns in his usual shtick just enough to let the buddy dynamic take center stage, though his trademark wit is never far from the surface.
The third act introduces new characters—Nick’s estranged, dissident daughter (Maria Bakalova) and Troy’s ailing father (David Morse)—adding emotional stakes that, while perhaps not strictly necessary, give the film a bit of extra depth. These subplots, though not the main draw, help ground the story’s more outlandish moments and remind viewers that even the most outrageous adventures are rooted in personal connections and family ties.
Critics have responded warmly to Mayday, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it an 84% rating as of its opening weekend. Reviewers have praised its combination of nostalgia, action, and humor, as well as its willingness to poke fun at both sides of the Cold War divide. According to 9to5Mac, "Mayday is a twist on all the usual tropes of Cold War thrillers, with a lot of references to the cliches found in 1980s flicks like Top Gun."
The film is available to stream for free with an Apple TV subscription, accessible on a wide range of devices—from iPhones and iPads to Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Xbox, PlayStation, and even web browsers at tv.apple.com. Mayday joins a growing catalog of over 330 original Apple TV shows and movies, and is part of a busy fall release schedule that includes the drama Last Seen, the sixth season of Slow Horses, and the comedy series Brothers. October will bring more anticipated titles, such as Matchbox and Tenzing.
In an era where straight-to-streaming action films are often dismissed as forgettable, Mayday stands out for its wit, energy, and sly self-awareness. It may not revolutionize the genre, but it’s a lively reminder that sometimes, the best way to honor the past is to laugh at it—and, just maybe, to learn something along the way.