Guy Ritchie's 'Fountain of Youth' Surges Again on Apple TV Charts

Guy Ritchie, long celebrated for his gritty British crime films, has shown he can handle just about any genre. After making a name for himself with movies like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, he shifted gears with hits such as Sherlock Holmes and Disney ’s live-action Aladdin. In 2025, he took audiences on a new kind of ride with Fountain of Youth, a globe-spanning adventure starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and Eiza Gonzalez. The film, packed with nods to classics like National Treasure and Indiana Jones, has become a streaming sensation, climbing back to the number two spot on Apple TV ’s charts eight months after its release.

For those unfamiliar, Fountain of Youth follows a master treasure hunter who teams up with his estranged sister to chase down the ultimate prize: the secret to eternal life.

That’s right, the secret of eternal life is once again on the cards for whoever can locate it, but you can almost guarantee that the promise of eternal life will come with consequences for someone along the line. It is almost like we have seen this before.

The plot may sound familiar, but that hasn’t stopped viewers from tuning in again and again.

Mixed Reviews, Massive Appeal

Despite a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences—scoring just 35% and 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively—Fountain of Youth seems to have found its own secret to staying power. Apple TV subscribers keep pushing it up the charts, just behind Brad Pitt’s racing drama, F1 , which still holds the top spot.

Apple TV’s unique approach to content may be part of the reason. The platform focuses on high-quality originals rather than flooding its library with older titles. As a result, movies like Fountain of Youth often resurface in the Top 10, joining the ranks of Tom Hanks ’ Greyhound, George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s Wolfs, and Chris Evans and Ana de Armas’ Ghosted .

Why Viewers Keep Coming Back

So what keeps drawing viewers to a film that critics say borrows heavily from other adventure movies? The answer may lie in its strengths: a stellar cast, a director with a proven track record, and

stunningly constructed set-pieces

that showcase the film’s impressive scale. While some say it lacks originality, the familiar blend of adventure and treasure-hunting is a comfort for many, offering a sense of nostalgia and excitement that’s hard to resist.

With a hefty $180 million budget, Fountain of Youth has spent nearly eight months bouncing around Apple TV’s global and domestic charts. It’s now considered Ritchie’s most successful standalone film to date, proving that sometimes, a tried-and-true formula is exactly what audiences want.

Behind the Scenes

Fountain of Youth premiered on May 19, 2025, running 126 minutes under Ritchie’s direction. The screenplay was penned by James Vanderbilt, with production led by Jake Myers, William Sherak, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Tripp Vinson, and Ivan Atkinson. John Krasinski stars as Luke Purdue, with Natalie Portman playing Charlotte Purdue, bringing the sibling dynamic at the heart of the story to life.