Guy Ritchie's Treasure Flick Surges on Apple TV Again

Guy Ritchie, best known for his gritty British crime capers like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, has shown he’s just as comfortable steering big-budget adventures. After dabbling in everything from Sherlock Holmes to Disney’s Aladdin, Ritchie’s 2025 release, Fountain of Youth, has found itself back in the spotlight. Eight months after its debut, the film has climbed to second place on Apple TV’s streaming charts, proving it’s still got plenty of pull with punters.

Starring John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and Eiza Gonzalez, the story follows a globe-trotting quest for the legendary secret to eternal life. Krasinski plays a treasure-hunting mastermind who ropes in his estranged sister, played by Portman, for a high-stakes chase that’s heavy on nods to classics like National Treasure and Indiana Jones. The plot’s hardly breaking new ground—eternal life comes with a catch, as always—but that hasn’t stopped viewers from tuning in.

Mixed Reviews, Massive Numbers

Despite a less-than-stellar reception from critics and audiences—Rotten Tomatoes scores sit at 35% and 38% respectively—Fountain of Youth seems to have tapped into its own kind of staying power. Apple TV subscribers keep coming back, pushing it up the charts just behind Brad Pitt’s racing drama, F1, which is still holding onto the top spot.

Apple TV’s approach to content is a bit different from other streaming services. Rather than flooding the platform with old titles, they focus on their own high-end productions. This means films like Fountain of Youth, Tom Hanks’ Greyhound, and George Clooney’s Wolfs regularly pop back into the Top 10, even months after release. It’s not unusual for a film to bounce in and out of the most-watched list, but the continued interest in Fountain of Youth is something else.

Comfort Viewing and Familiar Faces

The main gripe from critics is that Fountain of Youth borrows heavily from other adventure films. But that’s also what makes it so watchable. The cast is top-notch, the set-pieces are impressive, and the whole thing feels like a big, glossy comfort watch. As one reviewer put it,

“stunningly constructed set-pieces”

are a highlight, even if the story itself isn’t the most original.

For many, the film’s familiar sense of adventure is a big part of the appeal. It’s the kind of thing you can throw on after a long day and know exactly what you’re getting. There’s a reason these stories have stuck around for decades—they’re reliable, easy to follow, and a bit of fun.

Production Details and Cast

With a hefty $180 million budget, Fountain of Youth has spent nearly eight months floating around the Apple TV charts, both in Australia and overseas. It’s now considered Ritchie’s most successful standalone film to date, outpacing his previous non-franchise efforts.

The film was released on 19 May 2025, runs for 126 minutes, and was written by James Vanderbilt. Producers include Jake Myers, William Sherak, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Don Granger, Tripp Vinson, and Ivan Atkinson. Krasinski leads as Luke Purdue, with Portman as Charlotte Purdue, rounding out a cast that’s helped keep viewers coming back for more.