“It Ends With Us” exceeds $100 million

It ends with us surpassed the $100 million mark at the worldwide box office in its first week.

The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's hit novel reached that milestone on Wednesday after finishing the day with $68.9 million in domestic and $46.6 million in foreign sales, for a worldwide total of $115.5 million. (The film, starring Blake Lively, opened in select overseas markets a day or two ahead of North America's August 9, Friday.)

The summer film from Sony and Wayfarer Studios exceeded all expectations when it grossed $50 million in the US over the weekend of August 9-11, coming in a strong second place behind the third weekend of Deadpool and Wolverinethe blockbuster superhero film with Ryan Reynolds, Lively's husband, and Hugh Jackman. On Monday It ends with us moved before the Dead Pool third chapter and has been ranked number 1 ever since.

The film, which has an “R” age rating, also impressed abroad: it grossed $30 million in the first 42 markets and opened worldwide with $80 million on a modest budget of $25 million.

It ends with us In Lively, she plays Lily Bloom, a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood in which she witnessed her father's abuse of her mother to start a new life in Boston and fulfill her lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance encounter with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to discover sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents' relationship. When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly re-enters her life, her relationship with Ryle is turned upside down and Lily realizes that she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible decision for her future.

Baldoni, co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, directed the film.

All eyes are on how It ends with us will open in its second weekend. It has little competition in terms of female performances and enjoys excellent box office numbers. Insiders at Sony are cautious with their estimates of $22-24 million, but others say it could land in the mid to high $20 million range.

There is also an ongoing social media storm that began when Lively, Hoover and other cast members conspicuously did not pose for photos with Baldoni at the New York premiere (they had also unfollowed him on Instagram). Reports surfaced that a falling out arose during production because Lively and Baldoni had creative differences, as well as allegations that he alienated Lively and others on set with certain comments. To date, neither side has commented, although Baldoni has hired PR crisis communications manager Melissa Nathan.

Even Sony's top executives attacked Lively when social media users accused her of not taking the film's subject of domestic violence seriously enough, even though she spoke about it often on the press tour.

“Blake, Colleen and so many women put so much effort into this remarkable film, working selflessly from the beginning to ensure that such an important subject was treated with care. Audiences love the film. Blake's passion and commitment to advancing the discussion about domestic violence is commendable,” said Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The Hollywood Reporter on August 15. He did not mention Baldoni at all.

“We love working with Blake,” the executive continued, “and we want to make twelve more films with her.”