Imagine being a U.S. Navy pilot in 1987, stranded in enemy territory with nowhere to go and no one to trust.
That’s the predicament Ryan Reynolds faces in Mayday, where an unlikely alliance with a former KGB agent becomes his only shot at survival.
The film takes us through a convincing Soviet landscape, complete with military parades, period vehicles, and imposing architecture. Yet the places on screen are hiding a fascinating secret.
From the streets of Montreal to Budapest’s iconic landmarks, Mayday was filmed thousands of miles away from the country it portrays.
Let’s take a tour of the real locations that brought this Cold War adventure to life.
Mayday Filming Locations
Mayday was filmed mainly in Montreal, Canada and Budapest, Hungary. The crew also used other Hungarian towns and Korda Studios. Real aerial footage was shot in southern France.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main filming countries | Canada and Hungary |
| Aerial photography | Southern France |
| Filming period | March 11 to June 19, 2024 (per IMDb) |
| Working title | Blackbird |
| Release date | September 4, 2026 |
| Streaming on | Apple TV |
Note: Public production databases differ slightly on some smaller Hungarian locations. We flag those below.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Montreal was the main production base. The city offered studios, flexible streets and plenty of crew talent.
Many scenes set in the 1980s were shot here. Some scenes set in the United States were also filmed here, not in America.
Montreal often plays other cities on screen. It is a favorite stand in for big productions.
| Production | Type | Filming Details |
|---|---|---|
| Scream VI (2023) | Film | Montreal stood in for New York City |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) | Film | Parts of the shoot took place in Montreal |
Sainte Catherine Street, Montreal
This street in the Village district got the biggest makeover.
The crew turned part of it into San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter in the 1980s. They changed storefronts. They added period cars and signs. They even brought in palm trees.
The result looks like sunny Southern California but, was actually shot in Quebec.
Also read: Where was Netflix’s ‘The Perfect Lie’ Filmed? Every Dutch Location Explained
MELS Studios, Montreal
MELS Studios is a large film studio complex in Montreal. It gave the crew a controlled space.
Some interiors were built as sets here. That includes spaces such as Nikolai’s cabin and Anna’s apartment, according to reports. Sets give a film more control over the period look.
Rawdon, Quebec
The Village Canadiana in Rawdon is a heritage village north of Montreal. Old buildings and a rural feel make it a natural fit.
The crew turned it into a Russian village for the film. It suits the cold, rural Soviet scenes.
Châteauguay and Sainte Sophie, Quebec
Local Quebec coverage reported filming at Manoir d’Youville in Châteauguay. This historic manor sits southwest of Montreal.
Sainte Sophie was also named as a filming spot. Exact scenes shot at these two places have not been clearly confirmed.
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest was the second major base. It stood in for Moscow and other Soviet sites.
The city has grand old buildings and huge public squares. With some redressing, they can pass for the Eastern Bloc. Filmmakers have used this trick for years.
| Production | Type | Filming Details |
|---|---|---|
| Red Sparrow (2018) | Film | Budapest doubled for Russia |
| Atomic Blonde (2017) | Film | Budapest stood in for Berlin |
| Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | Film | Made with major Hungarian studio support |
Heroes’ Square, Budapest
This is the showpiece location.
Heroes’ Square became Moscow’s Red Square for a big May Day parade scene. The crew brought in military vehicles and Soviet style decor. More than 1,000 extras filled the space, according to reports.
The scene is a great example of how the film fakes the Soviet Union with real places.
Korda Studios, Hungary
Korda Studios is one of Hungary’s largest film studio complexes. It sits near Budapest. IMDb lists it as a location for Mayday.
Not every scene could be shot outside. Studios gave the crew control over lighting, sets and effects. It also helped with action work that needed a safe space.
Salgótarján, Hungary
Salgótarján is a city in northern Hungary near the Slovak border. IMDb lists it among the filming locations. That includes areas around Rákóczi út and Dr. Förster Kálmán tér.
Period vehicles and set dressing turned its streets into Soviet era scenes. The location was useful for larger outdoor action.
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Dunaújváros and Other Hungarian Locations
Recent reports link Dunaújváros to filming. That includes areas near Vasmű Road and the Lower Danube promenade. The town has an industrial look that suits Soviet settings.
There is some confusion here. IMDb lists Dunavecse, while newer local reports name Dunaújváros. So it is safest to call these extra Hungarian filming areas.
Southern France
Not every location was a set or a street. The flying scenes needed real sky.
The crew shot real aerial footage in southern France. It was then mixed with cockpit sets and visual effects. The actors filmed their cockpit scenes separately.
That blend gives the flight scenes a real sense of motion.
| Production | Type | Filming Details |
|---|---|---|
| To Catch a Thief (1955) | Film | Hitchcock classic set on the French Riviera |
Was Mayday filmed in Russia?
No. The film was not shot in Russia.
It was shot mainly in Canada and Hungary. France added aerial footage. Production design, set dressing and visual effects tied it all into one Soviet world.
How Did the crew Recreate 1980s Russia?
Production designer Nora Takacs Ekberg led the look. She grew up in Soviet era Hungary. That gave her a personal view of the period.
The team scouted almost 500 possible locations, according to one report. They kept a much smaller number for the final shoot.
They used three tools:
| Tool | How It Helped |
|---|---|
| Real locations | Budapest streets and squares looked like Eastern Bloc cities |
| Period dressing | Old vehicles, signs, and military gear sold the 1980s |
| Built sets | Studio interiors gave full control over the look |
Mayday Cast
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh lead the film.
| Actor | Character | Role in the Story |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Reynolds | Lt. Troy “Assassin” Kelly | U.S. Navy pilot stranded behind enemy lines |
| Kenneth Branagh | Nikolai Ustinov | Former KGB agent who becomes his unlikely ally |
| Maria Bakalova | Not confirmed here | Joined the cast in 2024 |
| Clark Johnson | Not confirmed here | Reported as joining the cast in 2024 |
Also read: Where was Last Seen Filmed? Apple TV+ Thriller Locations
Behind the Scenes
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Directors and Writers | John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein |
| Production Companies | Apple Studios, Skydance Media, and Maximum Effort |
| Genre | Cold War action comedy |
| Runtime | 111 minutes |
| Trailer Release | July 14, 2026 |
| World Premiere | September 1, 2026, at AMC Lincoln Square, New York |
| Release Format | Streaming only. No theatrical release |
Reynolds has called the pairing with Branagh “unexpected.” The two actors bring very different styles. That clash fuels the comedy.
What is Mayday about?
It is 1987 and the Cold War is at its peak. Navy pilot Troy Kelly flies a secret mission over Soviet airspace.
It goes wrong. Troy is stranded behind enemy lines. He meets Nikolai Ustinov, a former KGB agent.
Two very different men must team up. Their goal is simple. Survive and escape.
FAQs
Where was Mayday filmed?
It was filmed mainly in Montreal, Canada and Budapest, Hungary. Aerial scenes were shot in southern France.
Was Mayday filmed in Russia?
No. Hungary and Canada stood in for the Soviet Union.
Which Budapest landmark appears in Mayday?
Heroes’ Square. It was rebuilt for the May Day parade scene on Moscow’s Red Square.
Principal photography ran from March 11 to June 19, 2024, per IMDb.
Who stars in Mayday?
Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh lead the film. Maria Bakalova also stars.
Is Mayday in theaters?
No. It streams only on Apple TV.
Final Thoughts
Mayday proves a big movie can fake a whole country. Quebec became California. Budapest became Moscow. The French sky did the rest.
If you love location hunting, Budapest is the easiest to visit. Start at Heroes’ Square.
Which location surprised you most? Tell us in the comments.
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