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Trailer

Mayday

2003 – nowShow26 seasons240 episodesTV-14

DocumentaryDrama
85
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.8

A tense, intriguing documentary series about everyday modern life and history.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, romance or warmth.

Shows with

Episodes

26 seasons · 240 episodes · best: S5E3 "Gimli Glider" 8.9

Episodes

8.0
8.2
8.0
8.0
8.1
7.6
7.9
7.3
7.7
7.8
7.9
7.8
7.7
7.6
7.8
7.9
7.6
7.4
7.7
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.6
7.5
7.5
7.4

Story

Major real-life air disasters are depicted in this series. Each episode features a detailed dramatized reconstruction of the incident based on cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, as well as eyewitnesses recounts and interviews with aviation experts.

Feels like

  • Forensic Aviation Investigation
  • Disaster Reenactments
  • Technical Procedural
  • Documentary Style
  • Safety Analysis
  • High-Stakes Mystery
  • Educational Drama
  • Real-World Tragedies
  • Engineering Focus
  • Calm Narration

Cast

24 of 664 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Tim Wolochatiuk, Mark Mainguy, George D'Amato
Written by
Alex Bystram, Carl Knutson, Christopher Blow
Produced by
Alex Bystram, John Vandervelde, Katherine Buck
Music by
Anthony Rozankovic, Ken Worth, Igor Vrabac

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 3, 2003 · April 6, 2026 · Still running

First aired
September 3, 2003
Latest episode
April 6, 2026
Status
Still running
Length
26 seasons · 240 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Documentary, Drama, Crime
Original language
English
Also spoken
French, Japanese, German, Russian, Spanish
Made in
Canada
Available in
137 countries

Tropes

Death of a Child, What a Piece of Junk, Self-Fulfilling Prophecy +9

  • Death of a Child
  • What a Piece of Junk
  • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
  • Cigarette of Anxiety
  • Pointy-Haired Boss
  • Wrong Line of Work
  • Military Alphabet
  • Voiceover Translation
  • Skewed Priorities
  • Bowdlerise
  • Cold Ham
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech

12 of 223 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Mayday?"

Questions about Mayday

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Mayday worth watching?

85
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 85 (IMDb 8.8).

Which season of Mayday is best?

Season 2, with an IMDb average of 8.2. Season 8 is the weakest at 7.3. The highest-rated episode is Gimli Glider (season 5, episode 3) at 8.9, and the lowest is Lost Star Footballer (season 24, episode 9) at 6.7.

Is Mayday okay for kids?

TV-14Disturbing imagery

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch Mayday?

184 h

About 184 hours: 240 episodes in 26 seasons of about 46 minutes each since 2003, and it's still in production.

Is Mayday plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (7 of 10) and mystery (7 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

What tropes does Mayday use?

Death of a ChildWhat a Piece of JunkSelf-Fulfilling ProphecyCigarette of AnxietyPointy-Haired BossWrong Line of WorkMilitary AlphabetVoiceover TranslationSkewed PrioritiesBowdleriseCold Ham"The Reason You Suck" Speechand 211 more

TV Tropes lists 223 tropes for it, including Death of a Child, What a Piece of Junk, and Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.