Guy Ritchie “Indiana Jones Wannabe” ‘Fountain of Youth’ Defies Critics to Become Streaming Treasure

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Director Guy Ritchie is famous for his quick-paced, intricate crime films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, RocknRolla, and The Gentlemen. However, he’s also proven he can succeed with different types of movies, including Sherlock Holmes, Wrath of Man, and Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant. Last year, he directed an action adventure film inspired by Indiana Jones and National Treasure. Although critics didn’t like it, the movie has become very popular on streaming services.

Guy Ritchie’s latest film bypassed cinemas and premiered on streaming services last May. The movie, Fountain of Youth, stars a talented cast including Jason Statham, Natalie Portman, Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci. It’s an exciting, international heist story about a discredited archaeologist who gathers a team – including his sister – to find a legendary treasure while constantly evading danger.

The Reviews Are Savage, but ‘Fountain of Youth’ Has Endured

Despite having all the ingredients for success – a classic adventure storyline, the skilled direction of Guy Ritchie, a charming cast including John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, and a large $180 million budget – Fountain of Youth was a major disappointment for both critics and viewers. It currently holds a low 35% rating from critics and a mere 38% audience score on Popcornmeter. Most agree that the film doesn’t measure up to the adventure classics it tries to imitate, and is often described as a blatant copy of Indiana Jones. In fact, MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer went so far as to say the movie felt like something an artificial intelligence would create.

If you’re curious about what might happen if artificial intelligence gained consciousness, check out the Apple TV+ movie Fountain of Youth. It’s a big-budget, but fairly predictable, action-adventure film that openly borrows from movies like National Treasure, The Mummy, The Da Vinci Code, and especially Indiana Jones. In fact, the main characters greatly admire Indiana Jones, and even name one of their heroes Harrison.

Despite facing tough competition, Fountain of Youth has become a huge streaming hit. Since its release, it’s been the number one movie in 98 countries, racking up over 765 million viewing minutes in its first week. Remarkably, it’s stayed in the top 10 on Apple TV for over 270 days.

A ‘Fountain of Youth’ Sequel Could Happen

With streaming services dominating entertainment, a successful movie can easily lead to a sequel. Despite mixed reviews, Fountain of Youth has done well on Apple TV, and director Guy Ritchie has expressed enthusiasm for a follow-up. He described making the film as a particularly enjoyable experience, noting that the cast and crew had a great time and would be eager to work together again. A sequel depends on the film’s overall performance, but Ritchie and the team are open to revisiting this world if the opportunity arises.

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2026-04-12 18:34