Director Guy Ritchie ditches the gangster flicks he’s well-known for in favor of an old-school action-adventure, and it’s now become one of the biggest ever hits in streaming history. Having built a name for himself with the likes of British crime comedy capers Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, Ritchie has since moved into major blockbuster filmmaking with the likes of the Sherlock Holmes franchise, Disney’s Aladdin live-action remake, and various action efforts starring Jason Statham. But, last year, he brought his own take on Indiana Jones straight to streaming.
Skipping theatrical release entirely, Guy Ritchie’s Fountain of Youth instead went straight to streaming, debuting on 
Apple TV back in May last year. Featuring an all-star cast that includes John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci, Fountain of Youth evidently offers everything that audiences are looking for as it delivers a globe-trotting heist and follows a disgraced archaeologist who assembles a team, including his estranged sister, to outwit and outrun threats at every turn in search of the titular myth.
Being “Rotten” Hasn’t Stopped It From Becoming a Streaming Treasure
While the familiar action-adventure premise, largely reliable filmmaking of Guy Ritchie, a likable cast led by John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, and a substantial budget of $180 million would suggest that nothing could go wrong, Fountain of Youth was mauled by both critics and audiences alike. The movie now stands at a “rotten” 35% from the former, alongside a meager 38% from the latter on the Popcornmeter, with the consensus being that Fountain of Youth fails to live up to the genre classics it’s clearly emulating, even being condemned as an Indiana Jones “wannabe.” MovieWeb’s own Mark Keizer even called the movie the result “should A.I. become sentient.”
But none of that has stopped Fountain of Youth from finding monumental success on Apple TV. The old-school action-adventure flick debuted with the biggest debut to date on the popular streaming platform, reportedly logging 765.5 million minutes watched in its first week in the U.S. After such an auspicious start, it’s not surprising to learn that Fountain of Youth topped the charts worldwide. However, what is surprising is that it’s still there, having been in the Apple TV top 10 for a monumental 342 days. Not bad for a “rotten” movie.
Everyone Wants to Come Back for ‘Fountain of Youth 2’
Fountain of Youth is currently ranked #6 in the U.S. behind Tom Hanks’ World War II thriller Greyhound, the sci-fi action movie The Gorge, Keanu Reeves’ recent black comedy Outcome, the Brad Pitt-led sports epic F1, and Sydney Sweeney’s R-rated mystery thriller Echo Valley, which holds the #1 spot. That is, until Fountain of Youth 2 rises from the sands of streaming…
Following such continued success (it’s unlikely to drop out of the top 10 anytime soon), could we see a Fountain of Youth 2 despite the negative critical reaction? While Apple TV has yet to officially greenlight a sequel, Guy Ritchie previously teased how everyone would love to come back for more, saying, “It was one of those films that you don’t really want to end. People had such a lovely time doing it that they’d love to go back for another bite. So, we’ll have to see how we do. We’d all love to go back.”
Release Date
May 19, 2025
Runtime
126 minutes
