It ends with us has surpassed $100 million at the worldwide box office in its first week.
The film adaptation of Colleen HooverThe hit novel by hit the milestone on Wednesday after closing the day with a domestic haul of $68.9 million and an early foreign haul of $46.6 million, for a global haul of $115.5 million. (The film, starring Blake Livelylaunched in some overseas markets a day or two later than everywhere else in North America, on Friday, August 9.)
From Sony and Wayfarer Studios, the summer film exceeded all expectations when debuts domestically with $50 million over the weekend of August 9-11. It finished in a strong second place behind the third weekend of Deadpool and Wolverinethe blockbuster superhero film starring Ryan ReynoldsLively's husband, and Hugh Jackman. On Monday, It ends with us favored by the Death Pole threequel and has been at number 1 ever since.
The R-rated film also made waves overseas, grossing $30 million in its first 42 markets. Worldwide, the film opened with $80 million, despite a modest $25 million budget.
It ends with us Starring Lively as Lily Bloom, a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood in which she watched her father abuse her mother to start a new life in Boston and fulfill her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) creates an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is turned upside down and Lily realizes she must learn to trust her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.
Baldoni, co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, directed the film.
All eyes are on how It ends with us will be in its second weekend. It has little competition in terms of female-oriented films and boasts great audience scores. Sony insiders are cautiously suggesting $22 million to $24 million, but others think it could land in the mid- to high-$20 million range.
There is also the issue of an ongoing social media storm that began when Lively, Hoover and other cast members conspicuously did not pose with Baldoni at the New York premiere (they had also unfollowed him on Instagram). Reports surfaced that a rift had developed during production due to creative differences between Lively and Baldoni, as well as allegations that he had alienated Lively and others on set with certain comments. To date, neither party has responded, though Baldoni hired PR crisis communications executive Melissa Nathan.
Even Sony's top brass jumped into the mix to support Lively when social media users criticized her for not taking the film's subject of domestic violence seriously enough, despite speaking about it frequently during the press tour.
“Blake, Colleen and so many women put so much effort into this remarkable film, working selflessly from the beginning to ensure such an important topic was treated with care. Audiences love the film. Blake's passion and dedication to furthering the conversation about domestic violence is commendable,” Sony Pictures Entertainment Chair-CEO Tony Vinciquerra told The Hollywood Reporter on August 15. He made no mention of Baldoni.
“We love working with Blake,” the executive continued, “and we want to make 12 more films with her.”