When it comes to ruling Hollywood, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are the undisputed King and Queen. Not only do they know how to work a red carpet and throw some epic shade on Twitter, but they’ve also just done what no other couple has managed in decades- dominated the box office with two wildly different films. While Ryan’s cracking jokes and slicing up the competition in Deadpool & Wolverine , Blake’s stealing hearts (and cash) with her swoon-worthy romance It Ends With Us .
If there was ever a time to bow down to Hollywood royalty, it’s now. And trust me, they’re loving every minute of it. A post shared by Screen Rant (@screenrant) Let’s start with Ryan, shall we? His latest superhero flick, Deadpool & Wolverine , has been on an absolute tear, soaring past the $1 billion mark worldwide.
The film, a brilliant blend of irreverence and action, is the second R-rated movie ever to achieve such heights, following in the chaotic footsteps of 2019’s Joker . With Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine, it’s no wonder this movie has fans (and their wallets) showing up week after week. Directed by Shawn Levy, Deadpool & Wolverine has quickly become one of the highest-grossing Marvel films, trailing only behind Disney’s other 2024 hit, Inside Out 2 .
Also Read: 'It Ends With Us': Blake Lively's film is a bestselling adaptation with a side of glittering cringe A post shared by FandomWire (@fandomwire) But hold onto your popcorn, because Blake Lively is no mere bystander in this box office battle. Her romance drama It Ends With Us , based on the best-selling Colleen Hoover novel, exceeded all expectations with a smashing $50 million debut. And here’s the kicker- this film was made on a modest $25 million budget, which means it’s already a financial win for Columbia Pictures and Wayfarer Studios.
Blake isn’t just starring as the conflicted Boston florist Lily Bloom; she’s also co-producing, proving that she’s a force both in front of and behind the camera. Also Read: Behind-the-scenes drama? Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni could be at odds over It Ends With Us Together, these films created what some are calling the “family edition” of Barbenheimer - two completely different genres dominating the box office simultaneously, but this time led by Hollywood’s most charming duo. Do you remember the last time anything like this happened? Let’s rewind to 1990 when Bruce Willis’ Die Hard 2 and Demi Moore’s Ghost ruled the summer.
A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) That said, let’s not get too carried away with the fairytale. Behind all the glitz and glamour, there’s been some serious drama brewing- especially between Blake Lively and her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni. Rumour has it that the tension between them started during post-production when Blake decided to bring in her husband Ryan’s editor from Deadpool & Wolverine to craft a different cut of the movie.
This didn’t sit well with Justin, who had his own vision for the film. And, let’s be honest, nothing says “I don’t trust your creative direction” quite like hiring your spouse’s editor to redo the work. A post shared by Elite Daily (@elitedaily) Since then, the whispers of discomfort on set have only grown louder.
Some insiders have even hinted that Blake’s hands-on approach- along with her insistence on having a say in the final cut- left Justin feeling sidelined. And while Justin has publicly praised Blake’s contributions, claiming he took a backseat to let her voice shine through on a film that deals with heavy issues like domestic abuse, the behind-the-scenes tension is hard to ignore. A post shared by Harper's BAZAAR Australia (@bazaaraustralia) But the drama doesn’t end there.
Fans have also started to turn on Blake, criticizing the way she’s been promoting It Ends With Us . Many have taken to social media to express their frustration, claiming that the marketing is misleading. The trailers and promos paint the movie as a light-hearted romance, which fans of Colleen Hoover’s book know is far from the truth.
The novel delves deep into serious topics like domestic violence and toxic relationships- issues that the fans feel are being glossed over in favour of selling a more “marketable” story. This backlash has only intensified as more people see the film and realize it’s not the feel-good love story they were led to expect. Some fans are even accusing Blake of trying to soften the film’s darker edges to appeal to a broader audience, which they believe does a disservice to the source material.
And as if things weren’t complicated enough, the ongoing rumours of a rift between Blake and Justin have added fuel to the fire. According to sources, Justin has even hired a crisis PR manager to help manage the fallout, which is a move that suggests things might be worse than they appear. Still, despite all the behind-the-scenes drama and the fan backlash, there’s no denying that Ryan and Blake are a force to be reckoned with at the box office.
Their films continue to rake in millions, and their star power remains as bright as the sun. But, as they ride this wave of success, they might need to do some serious damage control to keep their reign on top from crumbling. Also Read: Blake Lively handles wardrobe malfunction like a pro during 'It Ends With Us' promotions.
