In a weekend box-office showdown between Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, both came out on top.
Reynolds’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” continued its box-office dominance, holding the top spot in North American theaters for the third consecutive week with a hefty $54.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates. Globally, the film has now crossed the $1 billion mark. Meanwhile, Lively’s romantic drama “It Ends With Us” exceeded expectations with a robust $50 million debut, proving a strong contender.
The success of both films created a family-themed twist on the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, where two vastly different films found success due to effective counterprogramming. This mirrored the 1990 box-office scenario when Bruce Willis’ “Die Hard 2” and Demi Moore’s “Ghost” also enjoyed simultaneous top performances.
However, not all was rosy at the box office. “Borderlands,” the $120 million video game adaptation directed by Eli Roth, flopped with just $8.8 million. Starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, the film struggled with poor reviews and a 10% score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling a major disappointment.
On the other hand, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” directed by Shawn Levy and starring Hugh Jackman alongside Reynolds, has become one of the most successful Marvel releases, joining the elite ranks of R-rated films that have grossed $1 billion, a feat previously achieved only by 2019’s “Joker.” It trails only Disney’s “Inside Out” in 2024’s global box-office earnings.
Lively’s “It Ends With Us” not only showcases her acting talent but also her role as a producer. Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, the film features Lively as Lily Bloom, a florist caught between two love interests. With a production budget of $25 million, it promises to be a profitable venture for Columbia Pictures and Wayfarer Studios, and its strong A- CinemaScore suggests it may continue to perform well through August.
Reynolds and Lively have played up the coincidence of their films’ releases, with Reynolds even humorously interviewing “It Ends With Us” star Brandon Sklenar. The synergy between their projects has clearly benefited Lively, whose film has significantly outperformed initial forecasts.
