Yes, Troy makes it home at the end of Mayday, but his escape from the Soviet Union becomes far more complicated than simply finding a plane and flying back to America. The final act also changes Nikolai’s future and forces Troy to reconsider what he learned during his mission.
- Release date: September 4, 2026
- Streaming on: Apple TV
- Main cast: Ryan Reynolds as Troy “Assassin” Kelly and Kenneth Branagh as Nikolai Ustinov
Spoilers: How Troy escapes Russia in Mayday
Mayday follows U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy Kelly after a secret Cold War mission over Soviet territory goes wrong. His aircraft goes down, leaving him stranded in Russia with Soviet forces searching for him.
Troy eventually receives unexpected help from Nikolai, a former KGB agent who has developed a fascination with American culture. Their uneasy partnership grows into a genuine friendship as Nikolai helps Troy survive and searches for a way to get him out of the country.
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By the final act, Troy and Nikolai reach Moscow and steal a mobile missile launcher while trying to escape their pursuers. They eventually make it to an airport, where Troy commandeers a commercial aircraft and gets them into the air.
Their problems continue over the Baltic Sea because the damaged aircraft is running dangerously low on fuel. Troy contacts an American aircraft carrier and receives permission to attempt a landing.
Does Troy make it home?
Troy survives and successfully returns to American control.
However, he refuses to complete the landing until the U.S. government agrees to grant Nikolai permanent residence and asylum. Nikolai has risked his life helping Troy escape, and Troy refuses to abandon him once American forces are finally within reach.
The government accepts the demand, allowing both men to reach safety. Nikolai eventually arrives in the United States, completing a journey he spent much of the movie dreaming about.
The closing scenes show Nikolai finally getting to experience some of the ordinary American culture he admired from afar, including McDonald’s. His view of America has also become more realistic after everything he learned from Troy.
What happens to Troy after he returns?
Troy’s experience in Russia changes how he views his own government.
After discovering information involving asbestos and the people affected by it, Troy refuses to stay silent. He later testifies before Congress, showing that returning home does not simply restore his old life.
His friendship with Nikolai also gives the ending more weight. Both men start the story with simplified ideas about the country on the other side of the Cold War and leave with a more complicated understanding of each other.
Mayday therefore gives Troy a complete ending. He makes it home, helps Nikolai start a new life in America, and returns willing to challenge the institutions he once trusted without question.
Mayday is now streaming on Apple TV. What did you think about Troy and Nikolai’s escape, and did the ending work for you? Let us know in the comments.
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