Box Office Milestone: ‘It Ends With Us’ Is Top-Grossing Romantic Drama Since 2018’s ‘A Star is Born’

As a seasoned gamer who has seen countless films and read countless books, I must say that the box office success of “It Ends With Us” is nothing short of astounding. The movie has not only captivated audiences worldwide but has also made history by outperforming some major romantic dramas of recent years.


It Ends With Us continues to make history at the global box office.

The movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s popular book about a woman whose story of a fairy-tale marriage turning abusive has generated over $309 million in worldwide box office sales, making it the highest-earning romantic drama since 2018’s Oscar-nominated film A Star is Born, which grossed $436.4 million globally (unadjusted for inflation). Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, who also directed, are the stars of this movie.

For additional context, the novel “It Ends With Us” has surpassed financially the female-driven films such as Sony’s 2023 romantic comedy “Anyone But You” ($220.2 million), Warner Bros.’ 2018 romantic comedy-drama “Crazy Rich Asians” ($239.3 million), 20th Century Fox’s 2014 romantic drama “The Fault in Our Stars” ($307.2 million), and Warners’ 2016 romantic drama “Me Before You” ($208.4 million).

In the movie It Ends With Us, Lively plays Lily Bloom, a woman who escapes a troubled past marked by her father’s abuse of her mother, to start anew in Boston and realize her ambition of owning a flower shop. An unexpected encounter with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) ignites a powerful bond between them, but as they grow closer, Lily starts noticing characteristics in Ryle that echo her parents’ toxic relationship. When Lily’s former flame, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), reappears, her romance with Ryle is disrupted, and she understands that she must tap into her inner strength to break free from the cycle of violence.

The movie It Ends With Us is part of Sony’s ongoing series of films catering to female audiences, a demographic the studio considers underrepresented. This lineup also includes movies like Anyone But You, starring Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell (the highest-grossing R-rated comedy worldwide since 2016), as well as The Woman King and Where the Crawdads Sing in 2022, and Greta Gerwig’s Academy Award-winning Little Women from 2019. Recently, Sony was also successful in securing the rights for Margot Robbie’s post-Barbie project, titled A Big Beautiful Bold Journey.

Despite attaining great success at the box office with the film “It Ends With Us“, a significant controversy erupted on social media due to apparent tensions between Lively and Baldoni during production. These strains became evident prior to the movie’s release on Aug. 9, as Lively, Hoover, and several cast members opted for individual photos instead of group shots with Baldoni at the New York premiere. Simultaneously, he enlisted the help of PR crisis communications expert Melissa Nathan.

Despite allegations that some cast and crew members felt uneasy due to Baldoni’s conduct on set, such as inquiries about Lively’s weight and potential risks of lifting her given an injury, many have still criticized Lively. However, when asked if Baldoni would direct a sequel, he suggested that Lively seemed capable for the role.

On their own, certain individuals on social media expressed concerns that Lively didn’t appear to treat the movie’s theme of domestic abuse with sufficient gravity. However, during the promotional tour and following the film’s release on August 9, she frequently discussed it and even shared links to various resources for help.

In an unexpected move, Sony publicly backed Lively, the film’s producer, whose preferred version of the movie is currently being shown in theaters, along with the other women instrumental in bringing the film to the silver screen. This was due to the excessive noise that had arisen.

Tony Vinciquerra, the head of Sony Pictures Entertainment, praised Blake and Colleen, along with many other women who put in tremendous effort, for creating an exceptional movie on a sensitive topic, domestic violence. He stated that their selfless work from the outset ensured the subject was treated delicately. The film has resonated strongly with viewers. Vinciquerra admires Blake’s dedication to fostering discussions about domestic violence and expressed his desire to collaborate with her on 12 more movies in the future,” said Tony Vinciquerra, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on August 14.

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2024-09-10 22:26