The cinematic adaptation of Colleen Hoover's smash-hit novel has stolen the spotlight midweek, even eclipsing the superhero spectacle of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' as the power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds dominate the box office with their respective films. 'It Ends With Us' has triumphantly surpassed the $100 million milestone globally within its maiden week, setting sail with a stunning performance.
On Wednesday, this adaptation of Hoover's beloved novel achieved a monumental feat, racking up $68.9 million domestically and an early foreign tally of $46.6 million, culminating in a global haul of $115.5 million. (The film, headlined by Blake Lively, gracefully debuted in select international markets a day or two prior to its North American premiere on the fateful Friday of August 9th.)
Crafted by Sony and Wayfarer Studios, this summer's offering exceeded all anticipations, debuting domestically with a breathtaking $50 million over the August 9-11 weekend. It secured a robust second position, trailing closely behind the third weekend of 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' the blockbuster starring Ryan Reynolds, Lively's real-life spouse, and Hugh Jackman. However, on Monday, 'It Ends With Us' surged ahead, claiming the top spot and retaining it ever since.
Rated R, the film has also captivated audiences overseas, amassing $30 million from its initial 42 markets, for a global kickoff of $80 million against a modest budget of $25 million.
'It Ends With Us' showcases Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, a resilient woman who emerges from a traumatic childhood marked by witnessing her father's abuse towards her mother, to forge a new life in Boston and fulfill her lifelong aspiration of owning a business. A chance encounter with the charismatic neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) ignites a fierce bond, but as their love deepens, Lily begins to glimpse shadows of her parents' toxic relationship in Ryle. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), unexpectedly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is thrown into turmoil, forcing Lily to confront the impossible choice of relying solely on her own strength for her future.
Baldoni, co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, helmed this emotional journey with finesse. Now, all eyes are riveted on how 'It Ends With Us' will fare in its second weekend, facing minimal competition within the female-centric genre and boasting exceptional audience ratings. Sony insiders cautiously predict a haul of $22 million to $24 million, while others speculate a mid-to-high $20 million range.
Adding to the intrigue is a swirling social media storm that erupted when Lively, Hoover, and other cast members conspicuously abstained from posing with Baldoni at the New York premiere (they also unfollowed him on Instagram). Reports surfaced of a rift during production due to creative differences between Lively and Baldoni, accompanied by allegations that his comments had alienated her and others on set. To date, neither party has addressed the matter, though Baldoni has enlisted PR crisis communications expert Melissa Nathan.
Even Sony's top brass rallied to support Lively when social media users criticized her for not taking the film's domestic abuse theme seriously enough, despite her frequent discussions on the press tour. "Blake, Colleen, and countless women poured their hearts into this remarkable film, working tirelessly from the outset to ensure this vital subject was treated with the utmost care. Audiences are embracing the movie. Blake's fervor and dedication to advancing the discourse on domestic violence are truly commendable," Tony Vinciquerra, Chair-CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter on August 15th, without mentioning Baldoni. "We cherish collaborating with Blake and aspire to make a dozen more films with her."
