Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cold War buddy action comedy with violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Mayday (2026)
What's the Story?
In MAYDAY, Lieutenant Troy "Assassin" Kelly (Ryan Reynolds) is on a top-secret spy mission over Russian airspace at the height of the Cold War in 1987 when his plane is shot down and he has to eject. He's found injured in the woods by bearded recluse Nikolai "Nick" Ustinov (Kenneth Branagh). Though Troy immediately tries to escape, he quickly realizes that Nick—an ex-KGB agent who's obsessed with the movie Top Gun and loves all things American—may be his only chance to survive. The two begin to forge a bond as they speed through the snowy countryside to try to get Troy home, Russians hot on their trail.
Is It Any Good?
The central idea here is pretty silly, but the action is fun, the '80s setting humorous, and the actors' chemistry likeable. Mayday isn't as much comedy as you might expect from the trailer. There are some laughs, and Reynolds is his usual droll self, but the film seems to want to strike a more emotional tone with many of the character interactions and revelations. It touches on themes of fatherhood, patriotism, and the superficiality (and futility) of geopolitical rivalry. Some of the moral lessons feel quite simplistic, but Reynolds and Branagh infuse them with warmth. The '80s music and some innovative cinematography are highlights. One pet peeve: Were there really no Russian actors available to play Branagh's part?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Cold War, the backdrop for Mayday. How and why did it start? How did it end? Where could you go for more information?
One of the characters says that "silence is complicity." What does this mean? Can you think of an example of this from your own life?
What genre would you describe this film as, and why?
Talk about the film's violence. Was it shocking? Thrilling? Both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2026
- Cast : Ryan Reynolds , Kenneth Branagh , David Morse
- Directors : John Francis Daley , Jonathan Goldstein
- Studio : Apple TV / Apple Original Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads ) , Friendship , History ( War: Other )
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and action, some strong language, suggestive references and smoking
- Last updated : September 2, 2026
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