The new Guy Ritchie movie has been brutally branded ‘one of 2025’s worst films’ with a mortifying 36 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, despite its A-list cast.
Fountain Of Youth, which was released on Apple TV+ on Friday, stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as estranged siblings who team up to find the titular mythical spring.
The adventure film, which had an eye-watering budget of almost $180million, also boasts Domhnall Gleeson and Stanley Tucci in its stellar cast.
And it has Guy at the helm, who has built a legendary reputation as an action and crime director, with the Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr and, more recently, Netflix series The Gentlemen.
But despite how much it had going for it, the film has been rubbished by critics and fans alike, Hello! reports.
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The new Guy Ritchie movie (pictured) has been brutally branded ‘one of 2025’s worst films’ with a mortifying 36 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, despite its A-list cast
Fountain Of Youth (pictured), which was released on Apple TV+ on Friday, stars John Krasinski (centre) and Natalie Portman (right, with Eiza Gonzalez, left) as estranged siblings who team up to find the titular mythical spring
The adventure film (pictured, starring John), which had an eye-watering budget of almost $180million, also boasts Domhnall Gleeson and Stanley Tucci in its stellar cast
The heist film, with John as an archaeologist and Natalie as a museum curator, clearly takes inspiration from the Indiana Jones franchise.
But unlike that legendary series, critics have said Fountain Of Youth fails to mark itself out.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s review read: ‘It’s all as predictable as you’d expect, with the screenplay by James Vanderbilt failing to provide the wit necessary to make the film stand out in any way.’
James is best-known otherwise for his work 2007 thriller Zodiac, two of the Spider-Man films and 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence.
Entertainment Weekly similarly said: ‘The characterisations are flat, the would-be quippy dialogue rarely elicits laughs, and the action sequences seldom rise above the level of satisfactory.’
One user on X did not hold back: ‘Fountain Of Youth is one of the worst films of the year!
‘A film that should be a lot better than it is. It certainly looks the part – lavish, expensive, big. But it’s a soulless, vapid and overwrought mess.’
Someone else similarly said: ‘Can anyone explain how Apple manages to make great TV shows when their movies tend to be s***e?
The heist film, with John (right) as an archaeologist and Natalie (left) as a museum curator, clearly takes inspiration from the Indiana Jones franchise
But unlike that legendary series, critics have said Fountain Of Youth fails to mark itself out. Pictured: Eiza Gonzalez as Esme
Despite how much it had going for it, the film has been rubbished by critics and fans alike
‘Another great episode of Murderbot [sci-fi action comedy starring Alexander Skarsgard] this week but don’t waste your time with Fountain Of Youth. It’s b****y awful.’
Another person was slightly less extreme: ‘Fountain Of Youth would have been a whole lot of fun if I watched it as a teen in the nineties.
‘Something about it feels outdated and not in a nostalgic way. The movie starts out OK but never fully goes anywhere.
‘Still, it’s visually stunning and Krasinski is great!’
Like this commenter, Collider gave the film a slightly less emphatically negative review: ‘The thing is, Fountain Of Youth could have easily been just another bad movie made for streaming and the fact that it isn’t is an accomplishment in of itself.
‘It’s a perfectly watchable movie designed to keep you entertained for two hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon.’
Analysis from Hello! magazine explained why it might be that the reception has been so unenthusiastic.
‘Streaming platforms are pouring resources into big-budget originals, often driven by famous names and recognisable genres. But that formula doesn’t guarantee quality’, it explained.
But Collider gave the film a slightly less emphatically negative review
The film seems designed to do well for the algorithm – rather than stretch or challenge audiences. Pictured: Guy Ritchie directing John in the film
The film seems designed to do well for the algorithm – rather than stretch or challenge audiences: ‘It also reflects a broader trend of “safe” storytelling in the streaming space – technically polished but emotionally empty.’
Audiences though, it warns, are catching on – and are not afraid, as comments on Fountain of Youth show, to express their displeasure.
But despite the harsh reviews, the cast have teased the possibility of a sequel to the globe-trotting adventure film.
Eiza Gonzalez (3 Body Problem), who plays Esme, a so-called Protector of the Fountain, commented on potential unfinished business with John’s character Luke, who she enjoys playful exchanges with, despite their missions being initially at odds.
She told Entertainment Weekly: ‘It has very layered meanings in it. It’s a perfect cliffhanger for the end of their relationship.
‘What is she really trying to say here? Is it a relationship? Is it protectors? What’s next?’
Her co-star Natalie similarly said: ‘If people wanted to see more, I would definitely be up for making more. It was so joyful to make this.’
Eiza added: ‘Why wouldn’t I? What a dream to be travelling the world with this amazing cast again.
The at best lukewarm reaction to the movie is a major change for Guy – who enjoyed extensive praise for his 2024 Netflix series The Gentlemen (pictured) and Paramount+ programme MobLand, released earlier this year
The Gentlemen (pictured), a spin-off from Guy’s 2019 film of the same name, stars Theo James as an aristocrat who finds himself inheriting the family estate – and the weed empire he had no idea was being run on its grounds
‘I do think that these types of movies need to be continued to be made for kids, to keep the innocence going, the passion of curiosity.
‘You keep a family legacy. So, I’d jump right in.’
Similarly, screenwriter James has said he would be interested to explore the Protectors more, the mysterious organisation Eiza’s character Esme is a part of.
He said: ‘I asked Guy, “Are there other protectors? And he’s like, “Of course there has to be”. Given that, it could be fun to have another sequel.
‘We did go to one of the seven wonders of the world [the pyramids of Giza]. There could be more.
‘That’s the fun thing about adventure movies; it could keep going and going and going.’
The at best lukewarm reaction to the movie is a major change for Guy – who enjoyed extensive praise for his 2024 Netflix series The Gentlemen and Paramount+ programme MobLand, released earlier this year.
The Gentlemen, a spin-off from Guy’s 2019 film of the same name, stars Theo James as an aristocrat who finds himself inheriting the family estate – and the weed empire he had no idea was being run on its grounds.
MobLand (pictured), meanwhile, is a ten-part gangster drama, starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, about two battling crime families
Many viewers shared positive verdicts in the wake of its release in March, with one fan posting on X: ‘I love everything Guy Ritchie’
The action comedy show, which also stars Kaya Scodelario, Ray Winstone, Daniel Ings and Vinnie Jones, was one of Netflix’s biggest hits last year, racking up 44million views in just four weeks.
It was renewed for a second series in summer last year, with early speculation pointing to a release date in 2026.
MobLand, meanwhile, is a ten-part gangster drama, starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, about two battling crime families.
Many viewers shared positive verdicts in the wake of its release in March, with one fan posting on X: ‘I love everything Guy Ritchie. Having Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren in the mix is such a deal sweetener.’
Another said: ‘The show has so much potential, like I’m already sold with just one episode. Yes, yes, yes!’
Someone else penned: ‘Tom Hardy, Paddy Considine, Helen Mirren and loads more. Looks a good series.’
A fourth wrote: ‘Tom Hardy in a mob series, sign me up!’
Fountain Of Youth is available to stream on Apple TV+.
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