Apple TV+ has found itself at the center of an unexpected streaming sensation this summer. The adventure film Fountain of Youth, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, has surged to the top of the platform’s most-watched list as of August 9, 2025. This is no ordinary hit: the film’s critical reception has been overwhelmingly poor, yet its popularity with viewers seems to be growing by the day.
When Fountain of Youth was released just a few months ago, few would have predicted its current success. According to Apple TV+ and confirmed by multiple entertainment outlets, the film is now outperforming other recent high-profile releases such as The Gorge—a sci-fi epic starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller—and Echo Valley, which features Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney. Both of those films had generated significant buzz, but neither has managed to claim the #1 spot that Fountain of Youth now occupies.
What makes this all the more remarkable is the film’s dismal showing with critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a mere 35% critics’ score and a 38% audience score. Despite these low marks, the movie’s streaming numbers tell a different story. As reported by Apple TV+ and echoed by industry observers, the audience is clearly voting with their remotes, not their reviews. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the crowd’s taste can diverge sharply from that of the critics.
The plot of Fountain of Youth taps into the timeless allure of adventure and mystery. John Krasinski plays Luke Purdue, a once-renowned archaeologist who finds himself drawn back into the world of exploration by a personal quest. He enlists the help of his sister Charlotte, portrayed by Natalie Portman, and together they embark on a journey to uncover the legendary Fountain of Youth. The stakes are personal: their family legacy is deeply entangled with the myth of the fountain, and as they dig deeper, they find themselves pursued by dangerous raiders and forced to confront secrets that threaten to upend everything they thought they knew.
The film’s supporting cast is nothing to sneeze at, either. Eiza González, Domhnall Gleeson, and Stanley Tucci round out the ensemble, bringing their own star power and charisma to the project. The chemistry between Krasinski and Portman has been cited by some fans as a key reason for the film’s appeal, even as critics have panned other aspects of the production.
Behind the scenes, Fountain of Youth is the product of a high-profile collaboration. Guy Ritchie, the British director celebrated for his kinetic action and adventure films like The Gentlemen and Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant, took the helm. The script was penned by James Vanderbilt, whose previous credits include a number of blockbuster screenplays. Production duties were shared among several major players: Skydance, operating under its first-look deal with Apple, led the charge, with David Ellison, Don Granger, and Dana Goldberg producing for Skydance; Tripp Vinson for Vinson Films; Vanderbilt, William Sherak, and Paul Neinstein for Project X Entertainment; as well as Ritchie himself, Ivan Atkinson, and Jake Myers. This kind of multi-studio partnership is increasingly common in the streaming era, as platforms like Apple TV+ seek to assemble the best talent and resources for their original films.
It’s worth noting that Fountain of Youth represents a rare stumble for Guy Ritchie, at least in the eyes of critics. His previous film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, also featured Eiza González and fared much better both commercially and critically, raking in $60 million at the box office and earning positive reviews. Ritchie’s signature blend of high-octane action and offbeat humor has made him a favorite among fans of the genre, and projects like The Gentlemen even spawned a Netflix spin-off series starring Theo James. Given this track record, the lukewarm reception for Fountain of Youth came as a surprise to many in the industry.
Yet, as the numbers show, mainstream audiences are embracing the film in droves. The reasons for this disconnect are up for debate. Some observers suggest that the film’s old-school adventure vibe is exactly what viewers are craving in a summer dominated by darker, more cerebral fare. Others point to the star-studded cast and the enduring appeal of treasure-hunt narratives, which have long drawn moviegoers into theaters—and now, into their living rooms. There’s also the comfort of watching from home, where expectations can be different and the pressure to agree with critics is less intense.
“This is one fountain that people are definitely drinking from,” quipped one entertainment columnist, capturing the tongue-in-cheek spirit with which many viewers have approached the movie. Despite—or perhaps because of—its flaws, Fountain of Youth has become a kind of guilty pleasure for Apple TV+ subscribers. The streaming platform has made the film widely available, and its placement at the top of the “most-watched” list has only fueled further curiosity.
For Apple TV+, the success of Fountain of Youth is a welcome development. The platform has invested heavily in original content, seeking to compete with established giants like Netflix and Disney+. Having a bona fide hit, even one that defies critical expectations, helps bolster the service’s reputation as a destination for big, crowd-pleasing movies. It also demonstrates the unpredictable nature of streaming success: what works in the living room isn’t always what works in the critic’s screening room.
As for the future, the film’s runaway popularity could have ripple effects. Studios and streamers may take note of the appetite for pulpy, escapist adventure tales, especially those anchored by big-name stars. Guy Ritchie, for his part, has shown he can still draw an audience—even when the critics aren’t on his side. And for Krasinski and Portman, the movie’s success is a reminder that sometimes, the biggest hits are the ones nobody saw coming.
With Fountain of Youth now available to stream on Apple TV+, viewers can judge for themselves whether the critics got it wrong. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that this is one film people are talking about—and watching—in record numbers.
