Major milestone unlocked for Guy Ritchie’s 'Indiana Jones Wannabe'
Guy Ritchie’s latest action-adventure is being tipped as streaming’s next Indiana Jones — and the film behind the buzz isn’t the one you’d expect.
So, Guy Ritchie has been on a bit of a hot streak lately, shifting gears from big cinema releases to practically churning out blockbusters for streaming services. Whether you think he's a crime genre genius or suspect he's just running on autopilot, you can't deny his latest film, Fountain of Youth, is making a serious dent in the streaming game—even if, let's be honest, quality-wise it's a bit suspect.
‘Fountain of Youth’ has held on to a spot in the Apple TV global top 10 for over 14 months running.
Streaming Dominance
Released straight to Apple TV in May 2025—no cinemas, no fuss—Fountain of Youth wasted absolutely no time climbing the platform's global charts. It hasn't budged from Apple TV+'s top 10 since the day it dropped, currently only just edged out of the very top spot (Formula 1 holds that). That's over 14 solid months in the global top 10, which is nothing to sniff at. Only a handful of streaming films have managed that kind of longevity recently. It's virtually impossible to put an exact number on how much revenue something like this actually generates, given the opaque nature of streaming data, but when you factor in the reported $180 million budget and this level of staying power, Apple must be quietly very pleased with the investment.
The Plot (and the Problem)
Ritchie directed from a script by James Vanderbilt, and it's about what you'd expect: a globe-trotting hunt for a mystical artifact that's definitely not called the Ark of the Covenant, but might as well be. John Krasinski stars as treasure hunter Luke Purdue, who convinces his estranged sister Charlotte (played by Natalie Portman) to get back into the family business and help him run around the world in search of—you guessed it—the legendary Fountain of Youth. The supporting cast is nothing to sneeze at either: Eiza Gonzalez, Laz Alonso, Stanley Tucci, Domhnall Gleeson, Arian Moayed, and Carmen Ejogo all show up for the ride.
The Reception: Popular, Not Loved
Here’s the thing. Just because loads of people are watching it doesn’t mean it’s any good. On Rotten Tomatoes, Fountain of Youth is languishing at a painful 35% score—and that’s for both the critics and the audience reviews. Not quite as infamous as Ritchie’s all-time low, Swept Away, but it’s right down in the trenches with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. No one’s tuning in for proper character development or Oscar-calibre filmmaking, clearly, but who cares if it looks like Indiana Jones fan fiction with a massive VFX budget? The viewing figures speak for themselves.
Cast Roster
- John Krasinski as Luke Purdue
- Natalie Portman as Charlotte Purdue
- Eiza Gonzalez
- Laz Alonso
- Stanley Tucci
- Domhnall Gleeson
- Arian Moayed
- Carmen Ejogo
Will There Be a Sequel?
Apple TV+ hasn’t officially pulled the trigger on a Fountain of Youth 2, but if you’ve seen the ending, you’ll know they were practically begging for it. The story wraps up with a sequel hook that’s less subtle nod, more blaring siren. What’s more, Ritchie, Krasinski, and Portman have all gone on record saying they’d love to do it all again. Given the streaming numbers, you’d be brave (or daft) to bet against it happening.