Ryan Reynolds' Mayday Just Became the Biggest Movie in Apple TV History

Ryan Reynolds just keeps breaking records. The star's new Apple TV movie Mayday has become the biggest movie ever on the streaming service, setting a new all-time record for Apple TV+, according to Collider.

Mayday stars Reynolds alongside Kenneth Branagh, and its rise to the top of Apple's movie chart is a genuine milestone for a platform that has been steadily building its original film slate over the past few years. When Apple started investing in marquee movie talent, this is exactly the kind of result it was hoping for.

A new bar for Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has spent years assembling an impressive film library — big swings with major directors and stars, from prestige awards contenders to mainstream action. But Mayday's record-setting performance gives the service a new benchmark. Whatever came before, Mayday now sits at the top of the pile.

The pairing of Reynolds with Branagh is exactly the kind of casting Apple loves: a bona fide movie star alongside a prestige heavyweight. Reynolds brings one of the most bankable brands in entertainment — a performer whose comedies and action films have dominated the streaming era — while Branagh lends the kind of gravitas that signals serious ambition. Audiences have clearly responded to the combination.

Reynolds, the streaming king

This is familiar territory for Reynolds. Few stars have owned the streaming era the way he has, turning big-budget streaming releases into cultural events again and again. Wherever he lands, the numbers tend to follow.

What sets Mayday apart is the platform. Apple TV+ has built its reputation on quality over quantity — fewer originals than its rivals, but a disproportionate number of awards and critical favorites. A record-setting hit like this one is proof that the strategy can deliver mainstream scale too.

Mayday's success also says something about how movie stardom works now. The old model — star opens movie, movie makes money — has been replaced by something messier, with franchises and streaming algorithms in the mix. But Mayday is a reminder that the fundamentals have not changed: put a charismatic star in a well-made movie, and people will show up. Even on a platform.

What it means for Apple

For Apple, records like this one are about more than bragging rights. A new all-time high validates the service's investment in original films and puts pressure on rivals to keep pace. It also strengthens Apple's hand the next time it goes after a major star or director for an exclusive.

The win also lands at a useful moment. Competition among streaming services has never been fiercer, and every platform needs its signature hits — the titles subscribers mention when they explain why they keep paying. Mayday is now firmly on that list for Apple TV+, joining the small club of streaming originals that genuinely move the needle.

For everyone else, the message is simple: Ryan Reynolds remains the surest bet in streaming. Watch the record-breaker now on our Mayday page.