The ongoing drama between stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni doesn’t seem to have harmed the commercial fortunes of their film It Ends With Us.
The romance has already earned more than $100 million at the global box office after just a single week in theaters, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The adaptation of the best-selling Colleen Hoover novel has performed remarkably well in the US, and solidly in international territories, despite reports that Justin, who directed and acted in the It Ends With Us, allegedly made his costar Blake feel ‘uneasy’ during filming.
She hasn’t escaped from the film’s brutal publicity campaign either, as several awkward interviews and publicity appearances from her past have recently resurfaced among fans, which has coincided with costar Justin hiring a crisis PR firm.
As of Wednesday, It Ends With Us has grossed an impressive $68.9 million at the domestic box office, while an early foreign estimate adds $46.6 million.
Despite a brutal PR campaign between feuding stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, their film It Ends With Us became a hit at the box office with $115M globally as of Wednesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter; Lively and Baldoni seen in It Ends With Us
The film grossed $68.9M domestically and $46.6 million internationally against a $25M budget. It
That brings the film’s total global gross so far to an eye-popping $115.5 million, which far exceeds its relatively modest $25 million budget, as reported by Deadline.
The box office grosses are even more impressive when considering that the dark romance, which involves domestic violence, was competing against the box office champion Deadpool & Wolverine.
That film, which stars Blake’s husband Ryan Reynods (who also co-wrote and produced the superhero film), still won the box office for It Ends With Us’ opening weekend, but that didn’t stop that tearjerker from pulling a strong second.
And now It Ends With Us is in first place at the box office after switching places with Deadpool & Wolverine — which Blake has a cameo in — beginning on Monday.
It Ends With Us is also in a strong place going into this weekend.
Although it will face strong competition from Alien: Romulus, it won’t have much new competition for female-centered films, according to THR.
Sony insiders told the publication that Blake’s film could gross as much as $22 to $24 million this weekend, but other estimates reportedly have the film grossing in mid- to high-$20 million range.
The movie’s commercial success has continued despite reports of a feud between Lively and Baldoni during and after filming.
The Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Tony Vinciquerra, recently stepped in to put his support behind lively and the controversy.
The Gossip Girl alumna — who recently made a barbed statement on ‘intimacy safety’ amid claims Justin Baldoni made her ‘uneasy’ on set — has been embroiled in ‘feud’ speculation with the director, who also took on a leading role in the movie.
He added that, ‘Audiences love the movie. Blake’s passion and commitment to advancing the conversation around domestic violence is commendable.’
In conclusion, Tony expressed, ‘We love working with Blake, and we want to do 12 more movies with her.’
Blake’s film came in second to Deadpool & Wolverine in its opening weekend, but it turned the tables and took the top spot starting on Monday, August 12; Lively seen August 11
Blake, 36, received support from the Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Tony Vinciquerra, amid rumored It Ends With Us cast drama; seen with Tony earlier this month in NYC
Baldoni has been either distant from other castmates or absent during some of the film’s promotional events ahead of its release in theaters on August 9 – causing fans to speculate there is a rift between the pair.
Last week at the NYC premiere, Justin was in attendance – but notably was not seen taking group photos with co-stars.
A source told Page Six that the environment while filming was ‘extremely difficult’ and added Blake felt ‘uncomfortable’ on the set.
‘None of the cast enjoyed working with Justin – they certainly didn’t talk to him at the premiere,’ the insider said, adding that both Baldoni and Lively watched It Ends With Us in ‘two separate theaters.’
However, other sources defended Justin – who directed other projects such as Five Feet Apart – and said he ‘would never intentionally make his cast feel unsupported.’
A few months earlier in June, Blake joined author, Colleen Hoover, at her Book Bonanza event in Dallas, but Justin – who recently hired a crisis manager – was notably absent.
He directed the film, while also taking on the role of neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid – while Lively portrayed the character of Lily Bloom.
Earlier this week on Monday, a source told People that, ‘All is not what it seems,’ in regards to Baldoni and the rumored drama surrounding the movie and cast.
He added that, ‘Audiences love the movie. Blake’s passion and commitment to advancing the conversation around domestic violence is commendable’; seen earlier this month in NYC
Earlier this week on Monday, a source told People that, ‘All is not what it seems,’ in regards to Baldoni and the rumored drama surrounding the movie and cast
‘There is much more to this story. The principal cast and Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him,’ the insider stated.
Both Blake and Justin reportedly had ‘creative differences’ during the production of the film adaptation, with a source close to the director expressing that speculation of a feud was ‘overblown.’
The insider then revealed that the actress – who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds – ‘wants to direct the next movie, sidelining him and securing the rights from Colleen.’
A clip recently showed both Blake and Justin seemingly having an argument while filming on set of the movie in New Jersey in a video obtained by TMZ.
While talking to the Digital Spy in an article published over the weekend on Saturday, Blake made a rather barbed statement about having ‘intimacy safety’ on set of It Ends With Us.
She seemingly threw shade at her co-star and director Justin Baldoni amid claims that he made her feel ‘uneasy’ and there was tension on the movie set.
During an interview with the outlet, Lively dished about working with intimacy coordinators for passionate, physical contact scenes in the new romantic drama.
She called attention to the importance of having intimacy coordinators working with the cast on set to choreograph those on-screen actions ‘safely.’
Her seemingly veiled comments come after claims emerged that Baldoni made her feel ‘uneasy’ during filming.
Both Blake and Justin reportedly had ‘creative differences’ during the production of the film adaptation, with a source close to the director expressing that speculation of a feud was ‘overblown’; seen earlier this month in London
When asked about intimacy safety specifically on their movie set, Lively answered, ‘Oh, that’s a nice question. I think it’s critical to have an intimacy coordinator.’
She pointed out that any other movement sequences are carefully choreographed on the set of a movie before adding that intimacy scenes require the same level of care and guidance.
‘I think that, like, you coordinate stunts, you coordinate dancing. It is, it’s choreography,’ she said.
‘So, to be able to say, you know, so this was what happens here, here and here in a stunt; and this is what happens here, here and here in a dance.’
‘But, like, now you guys just go…put your bodies together and your mouths and whatever. And just like, action and cut…that’s sort of ridiculous,’ she explained.
‘So I think that that being choreographed is critical for everyone’s safety,’ she concluded.
Her answer seemed especially pointed after claims emerged that Baldoni made her feel ‘uneasy’ during filming.
Allegedly, Lively ‘felt fat-shamed’ by Baldoni and felt ‘uneasy’ over one of their kissing scenes.
She reportedly felt uncomfortable when they were preparing to film a scene, in which Baldoni would lift Lively into the air, insiders told TMZ on Wednesday.
The insider then revealed that the actress – who is married to actor Ryan Reynolds – ‘wants to direct the next movie, sidelining him and securing the rights from Colleen’; seen earlier this month with Hoover in NYC
Sources told the site that the actor suffers from back problems and sought assistance from a trainer prior to the lifting scene.
Then, Baldoni reportedly asked the trainer how much Lively weighed and asked for help preparing his back to avoid incurring an injury.
When Lively learned about his exchange, however, she allegedly felt fat-shamed by him.
Because Lively welcomed her fourth child with husband Ryan Reynolds in February 2023, sources claimed that the remark really got to the actress.
TMZ’s sources also cited another alleged instance that bothered Lively on the set — a kissing scene that allegedly ‘lingered’ for longer than necessary.
DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Baldoni and Lively for comment.
And trying not to fan the flames of a rumored feud, Baldoni also addressed the ‘friction’ on the set and hired a crisis manager amid the drama.
While he avoided the topic of a feud, he said that having ‘friction’ during production can lead to creating ‘beautiful art.’
Allegedly, Lively ‘felt fat-shamed’ by Baldoni and felt ‘uneasy’ over one of their kissing scenes; seen earlier this month in Copenhagen
While he avoided the topic of a feud, he said that having ‘friction’ during production can lead to creating ‘beautiful art’; seen in 2023 in NYC
In his interview with Elle UK, he explained that there are challenges when juggling multiple roles on set.
‘It’s very challenging to act and direct, and especially with a project like this,’ he said. ‘There was a lot of pressure playing such a complex role like Ryle and, of course, as a filmmaker, you’re always navigating personalities.
‘There are all these things that happen every day on set, there’s always friction that happens when you make a movie like this. Then at the end of the day, it’s that friction, I believe, that creates the beautiful art.
‘Everything in life needs friction to grow. And look, we created something so beautiful and so magical, and it was hard, and it was worth it at the same time. And I grew so much as both a filmmaker, an actor and as a person throughout this experience.’
Baldoni did speak positively about Lively, calling her a ‘creative powerhouse’ and comparing her acting prowess to elite sports car Ferrari.
‘It’s like the difference between driving a Toyota Camry or like a Ferrari. You’re like acting with somebody who’s like a Ferrari of an actor,’ Baldoni said. ‘You move a little bit and then they respond, and it really was incredible just in terms of helping me craft the performance.
‘She touched so many aspects of this production, and everything she touched she made better. She’s so responsive and she’s so reactive.’
The romantic drama, which was adapted from Colleen Hoover’s same-name, bestselling novel, follows a woman named Lily Bloom (Lively) as she navigates a fairytale romance gone wrong when handsome neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) becomes abusive.
It is then she reconnects with her childhood sweetheart Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar) and leans on him as she navigates a harrowing situation, subsequently getting entangled in a very complicated love triangle.
Sources recently told DailyMail.com that Baldoni was ‘chauvinistic’ and ‘borderline abusive’ on the set, while also being dismissive to Lively’s ‘input.’
‘During scenes depicting abuse, Justin failed to consider Blake’s character’s perspective, instead focusing solely on what he believed was the abusive male viewpoint.’
‘His approach was very chauvinistic, creating a tense atmosphere on set,’ the insider said.
However, the actress soon took to her own Instagram page to bring awareness to domestic abuse by sharing various links, hotlines and information to fans
‘Justin almost became the character in the sense that some women on set felt he was borderline abusive to them and that he was unprofessional and unapologetic.’
While rumors of a rift between Baldoni and the cast continue to circulate, Blake was recently labeled as ‘tone deaf’ after failing to mention the serious topic of domestic violence during a recent interview.
However, the actress soon took to her own Instagram page to bring awareness to domestic abuse by sharing various links, hotlines and information to fans.
The Deadpool & Wolverine actress penned, ‘Everyone deserves relationships free of domestic violence.’
