Ridley Scott’s latest thriller, Echo Valley, starring Sydney Sweeney and Julianne Moore, has made an immediate splash on the streaming scene, capturing the top spot on Apple TV+ just one day after its June 13 release. According to FlixPatrol, the film soared to #1 on Apple TV's Top 10 in the United States on June 14, 2025, knocking off the previously dominant Fountain of Youth, featuring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, which had held the crown for over a week.
Produced by Scott and directed by Michael Pearce, with a screenplay by Brad Ingelsby (known for The Lost Bus), Echo Valley had a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on June 6 before landing on Apple TV+. The film unfolds on a Pennsylvania farm named Echo Valley, where Kate Garrett (Julianne Moore) grapples with the recent loss of her wife, the mounting expenses of farm life, and the challenges posed by her troubled daughter Claire (Sydney Sweeney), who battles substance use disorder.
The gripping narrative kicks into high gear when Claire arrives at Kate’s doorstep covered in someone else’s blood, triggering a tense thriller that sees Kate desperately trying to protect her daughter while unraveling the mystery behind the blood. The film’s supporting cast includes Domhnall Gleeson (known for Harry Potter and Ex Machina), Kyle MacLachlan (Dune 1984), and Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter, Killing Eve).
Domhnall Gleeson’s character, Jackie Lawson, is a menacing drug dealer who becomes a central antagonist after Claire accidentally disposes of his stash. This act sets off a chain reaction: Claire’s boyfriend, Ryan Sinclair (Edmund Donovan), begins dealing drugs laced with fentanyl to cover his debts, which tragically leads to an overdose death. Claire confides in Kate, claiming she killed Ryan in self-defense and begging her mother to help cover up the incident. In a heart-wrenching act of maternal protection, Kate sinks the wrapped body in a nearby lake.
However, the plot thickens when Kate discovers the body isn’t Ryan’s. Jackie returns, holding Kate hostage and demanding money in exchange for silence. In a clever twist, Kate feigns bankruptcy but offers to provide insurance money if they burn down her barn to stage an accident. Using a flare, she sets the barn ablaze, placing the body inside and planting evidence to implicate Jackie, who was staying there. This masterstroke flips the power dynamic, showing Kate’s fierce resolve beneath her grief-stricken exterior.
Gleeson commented on his character’s underestimation of Kate, saying, “He's just somebody who is always looking for a victim. He has an amazing spidey sense for people he can take advantage of, and I think he enjoys that.” Yet, “He underestimates her,” Gleeson noted, highlighting the film’s theme of resilience and the unexpected strength of a mother fighting for her child.
The film’s ending leaves audiences with a haunting ambiguity. Claire returns to Kate’s doorstep, tears streaming down her face, but neither speaks. The screen fades to black, leaving viewers pondering Claire’s fate, her sobriety, and the future of their relationship. Gleeson reflects, “We all hoped for one thing, and we worry it'll be the other. And that's the same as being alive. We're all hoping things will go a certain way and are worried it won't.”
Despite its rapid rise on streaming charts, Echo Valley has received mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reports a critics’ score of 50% and an audience rating of 59%. While critics have praised Julianne Moore’s committed performance and the film’s relatable premise, many felt the plot lacked originality, leaving some viewers wanting more.
Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney’s star continues to rise. Beyond Echo Valley, she has an impressive slate of projects lined up. Her crime film Americana, which premiered at South by Southwest in 2023, is set for public release in August 2025. She’s also attached to a film adaptation of the video game Split Fiction, collaborating with director Jon M. Chu and writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, known for their work on Deadpool and Wolverine. Sweeney is starring in and producing an untitled biopic about Christy Martin, the former professional boxer who survived an attempted murder. Later this year, she will appear alongside Amanda Seyfried in the psychological thriller The Housemaid, based on Freida McFadden’s novel.
Sweeney’s rising prominence was on full display at the European premiere of Echo Valley in London, where she dazzled on the red carpet in an icy blue Miu Miu dress featuring a halter neckline, fitted bodice, and a keyhole cutout. She shared photos from the event on Instagram, captioning them, “London 💫 ft my not so little bro.” Julianne Moore showed her support in the comments with three heart emojis, underscoring their on-screen and off-screen camaraderie.
The buzz around Echo Valley is part of a broader wave of star-studded events and premieres. Around the same time, Michelle Monaghan stunned in a black leather Gabriela Hearst dress at a screening for the third season of The White Lotus in Los Angeles. Brooke Shields turned heads at the 78th Annual Tony Awards in a striking red Balmain mini dress, accessorized with a diamond necklace and a unique clutch made from Radio City Music Hall curtains. Dakota Johnson graced the premiere of The Materialists in a sleek black Gucci gown, while Blake Lively attended the Tribeca Artists Dinner hosted by Chanel in a delicate white lace dress, recently celebrating a legal victory in a defamation lawsuit. Amal and George Clooney posed elegantly together at the Tony Awards, with Amal wearing a pearl-draped white Tamara Ralph Haute Couture gown. Julianne Hough also caught eyes in a white Christian Siriano dress at the same event, marking the Tony Awards as her “fave night of the year.”
As Echo Valley streams now on Apple TV+, it stands as a testament to Ridley Scott’s knack for producing gripping, character-driven thrillers that spark conversation. While the film may divide critics, its exploration of grief, maternal love, and resilience has clearly struck a chord with audiences, cementing Sydney Sweeney’s place as one of Hollywood’s most compelling young talents.
