Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Clash at the Box Office: Hollywood’s Power Couple in Direct Competition

This weekend, moviegoers will witness an exciting showdown between two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, as their latest films compete head-to-head at the North American box office. While the films cater to different audiences, the fact that Reynolds and Lively – one of Hollywood’s most beloved power couples – are going up against each other has created quite the buzz.

Deadpool & Wolverine, the superhero blockbuster starring Ryan Reynolds, continues to dominate the box office, while It Ends With Us, led by Blake Lively, made its debut on August 9th. Both films are drawing attention for their respective genres and star power, and this face-off has fans eagerly watching the box office results.

A Battle of Genres

According to Deadline, although the two films target vastly different audiences, the fact that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are competing for box office dominance has garnered significant media attention. It Ends With Us, based on the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover, is a romantic drama that appeals primarily to female audiences. Directed by Justin Baldoni, who also stars as the male lead, the film is projected to earn between $23 million and $30 million in its opening weekend in North America. For a female-centric drama, these numbers are impressive and reflect the anticipation surrounding the film’s release.

In terms of box office performance, It Ends With Us has the potential to become one of Blake Lively’s highest-grossing films. Even if the movie opens with a modest $23 million, it will still rank as her third-best opening weekend, trailing only Green Lantern (which grossed $53.1 million) and The Town (which earned $23.8 million).

The Power of Colleen Hoover’s Fanbase

It Ends With Us is not just any romantic drama. The film is based on a novel by Colleen Hoover, whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. Hoover has sold over 25 million books in the U.S. alone, and her presence on social media, particularly TikTok, has created a massive following. Her hashtags have generated more than 2 billion views on TikTok, and her fanbase is expected to turn out in droves for the film’s opening weekend. As a result, box office analysts predict that It Ends With Us could surpass the $30 million mark, driven by the loyalty of Hoover’s readers.

The film tells the story of Lily Bloom (played by Blake Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood and starts a new life in Boston, where she meets charming doctor Ryle Kincaid (played by Justin Baldoni). As their relationship deepens, Lily begins to uncover troubling aspects of Ryle’s behavior that remind her of her parents’ toxic relationship. When her first love, Atlas Corrigan (played by Brandon Sklenar), unexpectedly reappears in her life, her relationship with Ryle is thrown into turmoil.

Deadpool & Wolverine: A Global Superhero Powerhouse

While It Ends With Us focuses on female empowerment and romance, Deadpool & Wolverine is an action-packed superhero film with mass appeal. In its third week at the box office, the Marvel blockbuster is expected to continue dominating, with projected earnings of around $50 million. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film has already become one of 2024’s biggest hits, having surpassed $407.6 million in North America in just 11 days. It joins Inside Out 2 as the second film this year to cross the $400 million mark, achieving that milestone faster than Barbie and Inside Out 2.

With Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine alongside Ryan Reynolds’ iconic portrayal of Deadpool, the film has become a must-see for superhero fans. As one of Marvel’s highest-grossing films of the year, Deadpool & Wolverine continues to break records and is on track to reach the $1 billion mark globally in the coming weeks.

The Media Frenzy Over Their “Showdown”

The excitement surrounding Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s box office competition has prompted many to draw comparisons to last year’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, when Barbie and Oppenheimer released on the same weekend and dominated the conversation. While It Ends With Us and Deadpool & Wolverine cater to very different audiences, the fact that they are both headlined by Reynolds and Lively has created a similar level of intrigue.

However, those involved in the films do not see this as a rivalry. Both Reynolds and Lively have shown unwavering support for each other’s careers, and this weekend is no different. Just days ago, Reynolds and his Deadpool co-star Hugh Jackman attended the New York premiere of It Ends With Us to support Lively. The couple’s public display of affection and mutual encouragement only adds to their status as one of Hollywood’s most beloved and supportive couples.

A Historical Parallel: The Willis-Moore Box Office Showdown

This isn’t the first time that a Hollywood couple has faced off at the box office. The last high-profile instance of this happening was in 1990, when Bruce Willis and Demi Moore found themselves in a similar situation. Willis’ Die Hard 2 maintained the number one spot at the box office with $14.5 million in its second weekend, while Moore’s Ghost debuted at number two with $12.2 million. Despite the “competition,” both films went on to become huge successes, and Moore’s Ghost became one of the top-grossing films of that year.

The Future of the Box Office Battle

While Deadpool & Wolverine is projected to maintain its top spot with earnings between $50 million and $60 million in its third weekend, It Ends With Us is expected to come in second place. Despite this, the films’ vastly different genres and target audiences mean that both movies can succeed without directly cannibalizing each other’s audience.

Beyond their weekend earnings, both Deadpool & Wolverine and It Ends With Us are poised to continue performing well. Deadpool & Wolverine has already earned over $852 million worldwide, and with its pace, the film is expected to join the billion-dollar club soon. Meanwhile, It Ends With Us has the backing of a devoted fanbase and will likely enjoy sustained interest from Hoover’s readers.

Interestingly, Blake Lively’s connection to the superhero genre remains strong. Before taking on the lead role in It Ends With Us, Lively made a cameo appearance in her husband’s blockbuster as Ladypool, a female version of Deadpool, fully masked and only recognizable by her voice. This small yet memorable role further cemented Lively and Reynolds’ status as a dynamic Hollywood duo.

Hollywood’s Favorite Couple

Despite the buzz surrounding their box office competition, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively remain fully supportive of each other’s work. Since meeting on the set of Green Lantern in 2010 and marrying in 2012, the couple has been known for their playful interactions and strong family values. Together, they share four children: James (born in 2014), Inez (born in 2016), Betty (born in 2019), and Olin (born in 2023).

As Reynolds and Lively continue to build their individual careers, this latest box office face-off serves as a reminder of their influence and success in Hollywood. Both stars are at the top of their game, and whether or not their films claim the number one spot, one thing is certain: the world will be watching as they continue to captivate audiences on and off the screen.