If you want better score quality
Choose Crime 101. It scores 5.0 vs 2.0 for score quality, with a 4.0 overall score.
Mayday Movie Review
Bottom Line
Choose Mayday if you want a fast, funny buddy action-comedy with standout Kenneth Branagh, strong chemistry, and inventive set pieces. Skip it if Ryan Reynolds’ familiar wisecracking, predictable plotting, or mature violence are deal-breakers.
Best for
Best for viewers who enjoy old-school buddy action-comedies, inventive fight and chase staging, and character chemistry strong enough to carry a familiar plot.
Not for
Less suited to viewers tired of Ryan Reynolds’ sarcastic screen persona, those seeking deep Cold War politics or major originality, and families avoiding strong violence or profanity.
Verdict
Mayday succeeds most when it leans into the unlikely partnership between Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Reviewers repeatedly praise Branagh’s funny, warm, unexpectedly physical performance, the pair’s chemistry, and action staging that feels unusually cinematic for a streaming release. Fluid camerawork, well-choreographed fights, brisk momentum, and a Springsteen-heavy ’80s soundtrack give the familiar buddy-movie structure plenty of energy. The tradeoff is familiarity: several critics find the plot predictable, supporting characters underused, and Reynolds too close to his standard sarcastic persona. A few also object to uneven CGI, tonal silliness, or a simplified political message. Still, the dominant view is that the film’s heart, humor, and set pieces outweigh those limitations, making it a lively throwback rather than a genre reinvention.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
47 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.015 (32%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.417 (36%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.410 (21%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.45 (11%)
Pros highlights
-
Most reviewers find Mayday highly entertaining, funny, and easy to enjoy, with only a small minority calling it forgettable or disappointing.
-
The action is one of the clearest consensus wins, with fluid fights, inventive chases, strong aerial work, and several set pieces ranked among the year’s best.
-
The comedy usually lands through Branagh’s deadpan work, visual gags, and lead banter, but Reynolds fatigue and some broad third-act silliness divide reviewers.
-
Reynolds and Branagh’s odd-couple chemistry is repeatedly called the heart of the film, carrying the comedy, emotional beats, and long stretches of the story.
-
Branagh is the consistent standout and often scene-stealer. Reynolds is more divisive, praised when subdued but criticized when he falls back on his usual wisecracking persona.
-
As a throwback buddy action-comedy, the film strongly satisfies its target audience with banter, chases, fights, heart, and nostalgic genre energy.
Cons highlights
-
The buddy-road-movie structure is repeatedly described as familiar, predictable, and derivative even when reviewers enjoy how individual scenes are executed.
-
Rewatch interest is split: some see an easy repeat-watch comfort movie, while others expect to forget it quickly or never revisit it.
-
The nearly two-hour length works for some because of strong momentum, but several reviewers think the movie drags or would be better closer to 90 minutes.
-
The screenplay earns praise for smart genre writing and balanced character beats, but detractors call it safe, by-the-numbers, or even half-baked.
-
Period authenticity is mixed: some reviewers feel the setting convincingly evokes 1987, while others say the dialogue, visuals, or atmosphere never fully feel like the era.
-
Digital effects draw mixed reactions: most shots are convincing or good enough, but a few green-screen and cartoonish moments noticeably break immersion.
Cast & Creators
-
Nikolai UstinovBranagh is the near-unanimous standout, earning praise for deadpan comedy, unexpected action credibility, warmth, and the emotional depth he gives Nikolai.
-
DirectorDaley is widely praised with Goldstein for confident action-comedy direction, inventive camera work, and strong pacing, though one dissenting review finds the storytelling undercooked.
-
DirectorGoldstein is widely praised with Daley for confident action-comedy direction, inventive camera work, and strong pacing, though one dissenting review finds the storytelling undercooked.
-
Troy KellyReynolds divides reviewers: his charm and restrained straight-man work often fit the movie well, while critics tired of his familiar sarcastic persona see it as the film’s biggest limitation.
-
CinematographerPeterson’s cinematography is repeatedly praised for fluid motion, cinematic scale, and action images that keep the film visually propulsive.
-
Alexander VolkovDorociński is generally praised for making Volkov a credible, intense threat without leaning too hard into a cartoonish Soviet villain, though one review finds him merely serviceable.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Movies, this product is above average in sexual content level, pacing, action sequence quality, near average in lead performance, emotional impact, below average in score quality, rewatch value, world-building.
Comparison summary
47 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher25 (53%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts14 (30%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower8 (17%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| sexual content level | 5.0 | 2.8 | +2.2 |
| score quality | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| pacing | 4.6 | 3.0 | +1.6 |
| rewatch value | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.1 |
| action sequence quality | 4.7 | 3.8 | +0.8 |
| world-building | 2.5 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
| ending satisfaction | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
| violence level | 2.0 | 3.2 | -1.2 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better rewatch value
Choose The Furious. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for rewatch value, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better genre satisfaction
Choose Coyote vs. Acme. It scores 5.0 vs 4.6 for genre satisfaction, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better lead performance
Choose The Sheep Detectives. It scores 5.0 vs 4.1 for lead performance, with a 4.1 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Atomic Blonde
- Similar: action caliber The reviewer compares Mayday’s action caliber favorably to Atomic Blonde.
John Wick
- Similar: action caliber The reviewer compares Mayday’s action caliber favorably to John Wick.
Lethal Weapon
- Similar: overall action-comedy concept The reviewer describes Mayday as a hybrid of Top Gun and Lethal Weapon.
FAQ
Is Mayday mostly an action movie or a comedy?
It is both, but reviewers generally see action as the stronger half. The comedy comes from the Reynolds-Branagh odd-couple dynamic, while fights, chases, and aerial set pieces provide much of the momentum.
How is Kenneth Branagh in Mayday?
He is the clearest consensus standout. Reviewers praise his deadpan humor, warmth, surprising action credibility, and ability to give Nikolai more depth than the premise initially suggests.
Does Ryan Reynolds play his usual type of character?
Mostly yes. Some reviewers enjoy a more restrained version of his familiar wisecracking persona, while others consider that same shtick the movie’s biggest weakness.
Are the action scenes good?
Yes. The fights, aerial sequences, train action, and vehicle chases are repeatedly praised for choreography, fluid camera movement, and inventive staging.
Is the Cold War message deep?
The film’s empathy-first message about propaganda, patriotism, and seeing people beyond national stereotypes is often praised, but several critics find it simple or surface-level rather than deeply political.
Is Mayday appropriate for kids?
Family-focused reviews warn about bloody action, gunfire, stabbings, profanity, and other mature material. The content is better suited to older viewers than young children or sensitive audiences.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Troy Cervantes
- Review score
- 4.5
Article Reviews
geekvibesnation.com
Ryan Reynolds brings the laughs in Mayday, but Kenneth Branagh steals the show in this fast-paced ’80s action-comedy.
- Review score
- 4.8
thecosmiccircus.com
Tucker reviews Apple TV's Mayday, starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Directed & written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
- Review score
- 4.6
thereviewgeek.com
Delightfully silly and surprisingly heartwarming From classics like Rush Hour to more recent ventures like Deadpool and Wolverine, the buddy...
- Review score
- 4.7
theactionelite.com
Plot: Lieutenant Troy Brennan’s reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory goes awry, forcing him to crash-land and survive in Russian...
- Review score
- 2.7
filmreviewdaily.com
A theatrical knight and a comic Canadian team up for a stylish, eminently diverting action-comedy packed with surprises.
- Review score
- 4.9
Top Movies to Consider
Choose this inventive, unsettling documentary for fearless questioning, dark humor, and unpredictable storytelling. Skip it if you want a short, straightforward exposé with definitive answers.
Pros: originality, humor
Extraordinary performances and richly observed relationships make this a rewarding, emotionally forceful drama. Its nearly three-hour length and slow opening demand patience and undivided attention.
Pros: class commentary, character development
Best for a hypnotic, bookish mystery with tactile visuals and cerebral chills. Skip it if reading-heavy, attention-demanding storytelling sounds more exhausting than exciting.
Pros: Atmosphere, cinematography
Cons: audience appeal
Best for an intimate, searching documentary that rewards focused attention and invites discussion. Skip it when devastating grief, addiction footage, and unresolved family tensions would be too much.
Pros: emotional impact, theme depth