Mayday (2026): cast, story, release date and box office
Mayday (2026): action-adventure film with Cold War intrigue and a star-studded cast
By Entertainment Desk· 4 min read
Mayday (2026): action-adventure film with Cold War intrigue and a star-studded cast
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Facts updated October 19, 2026. Figures can change as a film keeps earning.
Key points
Mayday (2026) is an action-adventure and action comedy film released on Apple TV. It was written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, and produced by Apple Original Films, Skydance Media, and Maximum Effort. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Maria Bakalova, Marcin Dorociński, David Morse, and others. It follows a US Navy pilot who is pulled into a Cold War-era mission after a near-fatal aerial encounter, leading to a tense journey across Russia with a former KGB officer seeking asylum in the United States.
The story begins in 1987, when US Navy Lieutenant Troy 'Assassin' Kelly rescues his wingman during an aircraft carrier landing. After the rescue, he is asked to fly the SR-71 Blackbird on a covert mission over Russia with Air Force pilot Major Sanders. Their flight is intercepted by a MiG, and Sanders is killed. Troy ejects from the plane and is rescued by Nikolai 'Nick' Ustinov, a former KGB officer who has grown to admire American culture. Nick helps Troy escape the KGB, which is led by Alexander Volkov. To gain asylum in the US, Troy agrees to assist Nick in fleeing Russia. They travel by train, but are spotted by Russian military forces and forced to jump off. They hide at a dacha and contact the US Embassy in Moscow, where they are told to meet. When they arrive, they are forced from Anna, Nick’s estranged daughter, whose apartment is attacked by Volkov’s agents. At a safe house, Anna reveals she is a lesbian, which is illegal in Russia—a reason she distanced herself from her father. Nick admits he had known all along, citing it as a key factor in his departure from the KGB. Troy convinces Nick to tell Anna, leading to their reconciliation. Anna sends Ustinov a picture of herself with her partner and a note requesting a call when he arrives in the United States. The next morning, Troy calls to meet the US Embassy, but is told they will not provide asylum to Nick. Still, Troy consents to a meeting at the embassy. Unknown to Troy, Nick hears of the meeting and feels betrayed. He hands Troy over to Volkov, who interrogates both men. Volkov attempts to force them to sign a confession. Troy is shown a memo revealing that the US Navy knowingly exposed its shipyard workers to asbestos, which affected his father. Troy refuses to sign. Nick accepts the signature, yet pulls out a pen and uses it to pierce Volkov. The film ends with Troy and Nick escaping, having survived the confrontation.
Cast and characters:
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Release date: September 4, 2026, on Apple TV
Box office: No budget or earnings figures are available as of the provided sources.
Where to watch: Available on Apple TV. Availability varies by country.
Behind the scenes: Principal photography began in Montreal on March 4, 2024, under the working title Blackbird, and wrapped on May 8, 2024. Filming continued in Budapest. The film was announced in June 2023 as an original action adventure film for Apple TV+. Music was composed by Colin Stetson. The film received positive reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with 83% of 105 critic reviews positive and an average rating of 6.3/10. Metacritic assigned it a score of 60 out of 100, indicating 'mixed or average' reviews. The site's review highlights how Mayday uses sharp one-liners and Kenneth Branagh's comedic acting to gently ease Cold War tensions.
Mayday (2026) combines Cold War suspense with a journey of personal healing. It explores themes of loyalty, identity, and the cost of ideological conflict.
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focus_keyword: Mayday (2026) search_terms: Mayday 2026 movie, Mayday film cast, Mayday release date tags: action, comedy, Cold War, film, 2026, Apple TV image_alt_text: A scene from the film Mayday (2026), showing a US Navy pilot and a former KGB officer in a Russian dacha value_statement: Provides a factual, neutral overview of Mayday (2026) based on verified sources, including plot, cast, release, reception, and production details.
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Mayday is in US theaters now. It is listed for streaming on Apple TV. Availability changes and differs by country, so check the service before you subscribe. The film box at the top of this guide links to every streaming, rental and purchase option.
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