Apple TV has spent most of its reputation on shows like Ted Lasso, Dark Matter, and Silo, but its movie slate is quietly becoming just as interesting. This week brings two big pieces of news on that front: the first reviews for Ryan Reynolds’ new spy comedy Mayday, and the debut trailer for Being Heumann, the latest film from Oscar-winning director Siân Heder.
Mayday premieres this Friday, September 4, and early reviews are landing well above expectations. The film pairs Reynolds with Kenneth Branagh in a mix of buddy comedy and action thriller, and it comes from John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writing and directing duo behind Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Critics have been generous with their praise. JoBlo called it one of the strongest streaming-only releases of the year, while Empire noted that it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a Reynolds buddy-action movie and then some. The Hollywood Reporter singled out the chemistry between the two leads as the film’s biggest strength, adding that it leaves you hoping for a sequel. A common thread running through the reviews is that Mayday feels like it could have easily justified a theatrical run rather than a straight-to-streaming release, thanks to its polished action sequences and Reynolds’ comic timing.
Mayday arrives on the heels of Apple TV adding 15 free classic movies to its library for subscribers, part of a broader push to build out its film catalog alongside its award-winning shows. Watch the trailer here.
The other big film news involves Being Heumann, which just received its first trailer ahead of a November release. Director Siân Heder previously made CODA, the film that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards and made Apple TV the first streaming service to claim that award, edging out Netflix in the process. Heder’s follow-up tells the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, played by Ruth Madeley, and the 1977 sit-in that became the longest occupation of a federal building in American history. Mark Ruffalo co-stars as the government official standing in the activists’ way. Given Heder’s track record, Apple clearly sees Being Heumann as another awards contender, and the trailer leans into that framing.
The film opens in limited theaters on November 6, followed by its Apple TV premiere on November 13. It joins a growing slate of upcoming originals that includes Mayday, John Cena’s Matchbox the Movie, and fellow awards hopeful Tenzing, suggesting Apple is betting increasingly heavily on film as a companion to its television slate.
