Honestly, walking into the theater for Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us movie, nobody expected the real-life drama to eclipse what was happening on the screen. It was meant to be this huge, cathartic moment for millions of "CoHo" fans who had lived and breathed Lily Bloom’s story since 2016. Instead, we got a box office juggernaut wrapped in a public relations nightmare that’s still being talked about in 2026.
The movie didn't just perform; it exploded. Against a modest $25 million budget, it raked in over $350 million globally. It became the highest-grossing romantic drama since A Star Is Born. But while the numbers were pretty, the press tour was a mess. You’ve probably seen the TikToks. The cold shoulders at the premieres. The "wear your florals" controversy. It felt like two different movies were being sold to us at the same time.
The Production Rift Nobody Expected
When Justin Baldoni’s Wayfarer Studios optioned the book, it seemed like a match made in heaven. Baldoni, who also directed and starred as Ryle, is known for his work on "Man Enough" and his advocacy for healthy masculinity. Then Blake Lively signed on as Lily and as a producer. That's when things got... complicated.
Rumors of a massive creative rift started swirling early. Basically, there were two competing visions for the film's final cut. One source told The Hollywood Reporter that Lively commissioned her own edit of the movie from Shane Reid, who worked on Deadpool & Wolverine. Baldoni had his own version. It’s still a bit of a mystery whose cut actually made it to the big screen, though the final product definitely bears the marks of a collaborative—if strained—process.
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The friction wasn't just in the editing room. On set, reports surfaced that Lively felt "uncomfortable" during certain scenes. There were whispers about Baldoni "lingering" too long during a kissing sequence and an alleged incident where he asked about Lively's weight before a lift scene, apparently due to his own history of back issues.
Why the Press Tour Felt So Weird
If you followed the 2024 release, the vibes were just off. Baldoni did almost all his press solo. Meanwhile, Lively was surrounded by the rest of the cast—Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, and even her husband Ryan Reynolds.
Fans noticed pretty quickly that the cast didn't follow Baldoni on Instagram. Colleen Hoover didn't follow him either. It looked like a total blackout. Then came the "marketing" controversy. Lively was criticized for promoting her new hair care line, Blake Brown, and telling fans to "grab your friends" and "wear your florals" to see a movie that deals with the heavy reality of domestic violence.
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It felt tone-deaf to a lot of people. Critics argued that the promotional campaign was treating a story about survival like a lighthearted rom-com. Baldoni, on the other hand, focused his interviews almost entirely on the cycle of abuse and how to break it. The contrast was jarring.
Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us Movie vs. The Book
For the purists, the movie made some big swings. Some worked. Some definitely didn't.
- The Age Gap: In the book, Lily is 23. In the movie, she’s in her 30s. This was actually a smart move by Hoover and the filmmakers to make Ryle’s career as a neurosurgeon feel more grounded in reality.
- The "Iconic" Rooftop Scene: Blake Lively revealed that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, actually wrote a significant portion of the dialogue for the first meeting between Lily and Ryle. This reportedly didn't sit well with the original production team.
- The Ending: While the core message stayed the same, the way Lily arrives at her decision felt faster in the film. The book spends a lot more time on her internal struggle and those "Ellen DeGeneres" journal entries, which were largely cut from the movie.
The cinematography by Barry Peterson was undeniably gorgeous. Boston looked like a dream, even when the subject matter was a nightmare. Isabela Ferrer, who played young Lily, was a standout for many, perfectly capturing the mannerisms that Lively brought to the adult version of the character.
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The Legal Fallout and the Future
Fast forward to where we are now. The drama didn't end when the credits rolled. In late 2024, Lively filed a formal complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department, alleging a hostile work environment and harassment. Baldoni didn't stay quiet, eventually filing his own libel lawsuit against major media outlets, claiming the narrative was a coordinated "smear campaign."
With court dates set for early 2026, the prospect of a sequel—It Starts with Us—is looking pretty slim. Even though the first movie was a massive financial win, the bridge between the lead actors seems to have been burned, salted, and paved over.
How to Approach the Story Now
If you’re just getting into the CoHo world or re-watching the film, it’s worth looking past the headlines to the actual story being told. Despite the behind-the-scenes chaos, the film does succeed in showing how insidious domestic abuse can be. It's not always a monster in the dark; sometimes it's someone you deeply love.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Read the book first: If you haven't, the novel provides a much deeper look into Lily’s psychology that the movie just couldn't fit into two hours.
- Check the resources: If you or someone you know is affected by the themes in the film, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) is a vital resource.
- Watch the "Baldoni Cut" theories: Fans have painstakingly reconstructed what they believe were Baldoni’s original directorial choices based on early trailers—it’s a fascinating look at how editing changes a story’s soul.