Shockingly, for a guy who’s everywhere at all times, it feels like it’s been a hot minute since I’ve seen Ryan Reynolds. The last movie I saw him in was 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, though I’ve been anticipating his upcoming release, Mayday, since the first trailer went live. I miss the buddy action genre fiercely, and I hope Mayday brings it back with a vengeance. Today, the first reactions to Mayday are coming in hot, and it looks like I could get my wish.
In Mayday, Lieutenant Troy Brennan’s (Reynolds) reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory goes awry, forcing him to crash-land and survive in the Russian wilderness while evading capture or rescue. To make sure he doesn’t end up on the business end of a bullet, Brennan teams up with Nikolai Ustinov (Kenneth Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent who harbors an unexpected obsession with American pop culture. The odd-couple dynamic is an absolute staple of the genre, and pairing Reynolds’ fast-talking, charismatic energy with Branagh’s commanding, theatrical presence sounds like an absolute stroke of casting genius.
The first reactions to Mayday praise it as a throwback to classic 1980s action-buddy comedies, noting the duo’s clever banter, exhilarating stunts, and explosive set pieces. That sounds exactly like what I’ve been craving lately. Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) have repeatedly proven they possess a sharp, instinctual grasp of physical comedy and high-stakes kinetic direction.
From what I can gather, the initial reactions are glowing, with many critics declaring the film a guaranteed smash for Apple TV that nails the buddy-action formula with precision and style. Reviewers are pointing out that the on-screen chemistry between Reynolds and Branagh is electric, keeping the laughs coming rapidly while still delivering genuinely thrilling, high-octane set pieces. For fans who miss the golden era of genre-blending action comedies, this might just be the late-summer event to beat when it hits Apple TV on September 4, 2026.
You can check out some of the first reactions to Mayday below: