Where was Mayday filmed? Discover the Montreal, Budapest, and other locations behind Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh’s Cold War action comedy.
The 2026 action comedy, Mayday, written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, follows U.S. Navy pilot Troy “Assassin” Kelly after a secret Cold War mission goes spectacularly wrong.
Stranded behind enemy lines, he finds an unlikely ally in Nikolai Ustinov, an eccentric former KGB agent with a serious weakness for American pop culture.
The filmmakers recreated 1987 Soviet Russia without filming in Russia, using historic streets, industrial cities, practical sets, and visual effects.
With Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, and Maria Bakalova leading the cast, the film turns an international escape mission into a very inconvenient buddy movie.
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🛩️ Mayday Filming Locations
Mayday was filmed primarily in Montreal, Canada, and Budapest, Hungary, with additional scenes in other Hungarian cities, San Diego, and Southern France.
🪆 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Montreal, Quebec provided the streets, buildings, and landscapes for Cold War-era Russia. The city’s architecture helped create a convincing Eastern European atmosphere.
Village Canadiana in Quebec helped create the snowy Russian wilderness where Troy crash lands near Nick’s cabin. Manoir D’Youville in Châteauguay Heights, with its historic architecture and secluded setting hosted a high-ranking Soviet official’s estate with the comedic break-in sequence.
A retrofitted Deli Plus near Villeray Street and Papineau Avenue was transformed into an old-style McDonald’s facade, helping establish the film’s 1987 setting.
What was filmed here:
- Manoir D’Youville, Châteauguay Heights: Break-in at Soviet official’s estate.
- Sainte-Catherine Street, Montreal: 1980s Southern California, where Troy goes drinking.
- Deli Plus, Montreal: Retro McDonald’s near Villeray Street and Papineau Avenue.
- Village Canadiana, Quebec: Russian wilderness, airplane crash sites, Nick’s cabin.
- Mont Avalanche, Quebec: Jumping from moving train and sliding down a slope.
- Old Montreal: Covert KGB confrontations and Moscow streets.
What to see & do here:
- Plateau-Mont-Royal: Explore historic streets, staircases, and balconies.
- Villeray: Discover local cafés, shops, and neighbourhood architecture.
- Châteauguay: Book a stay at the historic Manoir D’Youville.
- Montreal: Enjoy museums, markets, and the city’s food scene.
🏛️ Budapest, Hungary
Budapest‘s historic streets, landmarks, industrial cities, practical military vehicles, and studio sets helped create Mayday’s largest 1980s Soviet action sequences.
Heroes’ Square became Moscow’s Red Square for a climactic foot chase involving Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh. Around 1,000 extras and military vehicles gave the sequence its enormous scale.
Budapest’s historic Erzsébetváros (District VII) provided tightly packed streets for urban action and getaway sequences, helping the filmmakers create the feel of late-1980s Moscow.
Vasmű Road & Lower Danube Promenade in Dunaújváros provided the setting for the massive nuclear missile launcher escape, while Rákóczi Road, Erzsébet Square, and Fő Square in Salgótarján was used for military tank-chase sequences.
At Korda Studios in Etyek, the filmmakers created controlled interiors and other elements of the Soviet setting.
What was filmed here:
- Heroes’ Square: Moscow’s Red Square and climactic foot chase.
- Erzsébetváros (District VII): Moscow-style street ambush & getaway sequences.
- Dunaújváros: Nuclear missile launcher escape sequence.
- Salgótarján: Military tank chases & armored action.
- Korda Studios, Etyek: Soviet military interiors and government spaces.
What to see & do here:
- Heroes’ Square: Admire the Millennium Monument and City Park.
- Erzsébetváros : Discover Budapest’s famous ruin-bar district.
- Budapest: Walk along the Danube and explore historic architecture.
- Etyek: Visit local wineries and explore the countryside.
- Dunaújváros: Discover its industrial heritage and riverside setting.
- Salgótarján: Explore the northern Hungarian countryside.
⚓ San Diego, California
San Diego‘s connection with the U.S. Navy made it a natural choice for the Navy base sequences and opening airfield briefings before Troy Kelly departs on his dangerous mission.
What was filmed here:
- San Diego: Opening Navy base sequences.
- Airfield locations: Troy’s mission briefing scenes.
What to see & do here:
- San Diego: Visit maritime museums and naval attractions.
- San Diego Waterfront: Enjoy harbour views and coastal walks.
- USS Midway Museum: Explore the aircraft carrier and hear sailors stories.
- Balboa Park: Explore museums, gardens, and historic architecture.
🛩️ Southern France
Southern France supplied aerial background footage for the film’s jet sequences. The production captured actual skies and high-altitude horizons combined with cockpit work and visual effects to create a more convincing sense of flight.
The controlled studio environments allowed the cast to perform inside physical cockpit sections, blending practical aircraft elements, real aerial photography, and visual effects – a suitably elaborate solution for a film in which a secret mission goes wrong almost immediately.
What was filmed here:
- Southern France: Real aerial photography for jet sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Southern France: Explore coastal towns and scenic landscapes.
- Provence: Visit historic villages, markets, and vineyards.
- French Riviera: Enjoy beaches, promenades, and Mediterranean views.
🎭 Mayday FAQs
From filming locations to cast details and the film’s Cold War production secrets, here’s everything you need to know about Mayday.
What is Mayday (2026) about?
Mayday is a Cold War action comedy about a U.S. Navy pilot who becomes stranded behind enemy lines and must rely on an eccentric former KGB agent to survive.
Where is Mayday set?
Mayday is set in 1987, during the Cold War, with much of the action taking place in Soviet territory.
Was Mayday filmed in Russia?
No. Mayday was primarily shot in Montreal, Quebec, and Budapest, Hungary, with additional filming in Dunaújváros, Salgótarján, San Diego, and Southern France.
How did they recreate Mayday’s Cold War aircraft?
The filmmakers visited Yanks Air Museum in Chino to study Cold War aircraft and cockpits, while a visit to Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale provided a close look at real SR-71s to plan realistic camera angles and build convincing F/A-18 and SR-71 cockpit sections.
Who’s in the cast of Mayday (2026)?
- Ryan Reynolds: Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly
- Kenneth Branagh: Nikolai “Nick” Ustinov
- Marcin Dorociński: Alexander Volkov
- Maria Bakalova: Anna Ustinov
- David Morse: Harold Kelly
What are some movies like Mayday?
- Midnight Run (1988): Mismatched partners outrun dangerous enemies.
- 48 Hrs. (1982): Bickering allies tackle a criminal threat.
- Misery (1990): A stranded man faces terrifying captivity.
- Top Gun (1986): High-flying pilots chase danger and glory.
- The Hunt for Red October (1990): Cold War tension meets naval intrigue.
📺 Where to Watch Mayday
Where is Mayday streaming? Here’s where to find this Cold War action comedy.
Mayday proves that when your secret mission involves a crash, a stolen tank, and an ex-KGB agent who loves American movies, the safest route home is probably the one nobody planned.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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