On August 6 in New York, during the premiere of “It Ends With Us,” Sony Pictures Entertainment publicly commended Blake Lively for her role in both starring and producing the film, highlighting her efforts in addressing domestic violence. The film, which opened strongly with a $50 million debut in North America, is based on Colleen Hoover’s novel and was acquired by Sony from Wayfarer Studios.
Blake Lively attended Colleen Hoover’s Book Bonanza in Dallas in mid-June, where she announced a special screening of the movie’s rough cut to over 2,000 attendees. The next day, attendees were shown this preferred version of the movie. This event marked significant progress for Wayfarer Studios as it was their first adaptation of one of Hoover’s novels into a movie.
At the New York premiere, Blake Lively addressed survivors of domestic violence with powerful words: “I think that you’re so much — and not to minimize it — but you are so much more than just a survivor or just a victim. While that is a huge thing, you are a person of multitudes, and what someone has done to you doesn’t define you. You define you.”
Despite Lively’s prominent role at the Dallas event, Justin Baldoni, director and actor in the film, was notably absent and remained in New York for media appointments. His absence was followed historically by his non-appearance in cast group photos and eventually led to hiring PR crisis communications executives. However, Baldoni had previously expressed immense support for the impact of the story saying at an unspecified date “This is one that could actually make a real difference — this could save lives.”
Sony Chairman-CEO Tony Vinciquerra recently confirmed strong backing from their end stating in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “Blake, Colleen and so many women put so much effort into this remarkable movie, working selflessly from the start to ensure that such an important subject matter was handled with care. Audiences love the movie. Blake’s passion and commitment to advancing the conversation around domestic violence is commendable.”
In terms of box office success early indicators were promising; following its opening weekend tally of $50 million domestically—the film went on to collect $64 million by the subsequent Tuesday and amassed over $30 million overseas.
Regarding public reaction beyond theatrics; post-August 9 release faced some negativity online including criticism towards both Lively and Baldoni over their portrayal of domestic violence themes leading to strain between them.
Blake Lively continues her passionate advocacy for domestic violence awareness while managing backlash gracefully balancing numerous roles as actress and producer. Sony’s commitment along with positive audience reception signifies a strong path forward pedagogically speaking within cinema.
