Honestly, walking into the cinema for it ends with us in theaters, you kind of knew what you were getting into. Or did you? If you’ve spent any time on BookTok over the last few years, Colleen Hoover’s name is basically inescapable. It’s a juggernaut. But seeing Lily Bloom’s floral shop and Ryle Kincaid’s sterile penthouse brought to life on a massive screen is a different beast entirely. It’s visceral.
The movie isn't just a romance. It’s a heavy, sometimes suffocating look at how cycles of violence repeat themselves. Blake Lively, who also produced the film, took a massive swing here. Some people loved the fashion; others felt the marketing leaned a bit too hard into the "wear your florals" vibe when the actual subject matter is, well, devastating.
There was a lot of noise. Between the rumors of a rift between Lively and director/co-star Justin Baldoni and the frantic debates over the soundtrack choices, the actual film almost felt like it was playing second fiddle to the drama. But once the lights dim, it’s all about Lily.
The Reality of Seeing It Ends With Us in Theaters
Watching this story in a room full of strangers changes the vibe. You can hear the collective intake of breath during the kitchen scene. You feel the tension when Atlas Corrigan—played by Brandon Sklenar—shows up at the restaurant.
The film follows Lily Bloom, a woman who moves to Boston to open her own business and falls for a charming neurosurgeon. Ryle is perfect on paper. He’s brilliant. He’s wealthy. He’s intense. But that intensity has a dark side that Lily recognizes from her own childhood. The movie doesn't shy away from the complexity of why people stay. It shows the "good" days, which makes the "bad" days feel even more like a betrayal.
One thing the theatrical experience nailed was the lighting. The flashbacks to young Lily and Atlas have this warm, hazy, nostalgic glow. It feels like a memory. Compare that to the sharp, cold, modern aesthetic of Lily’s adult life in Boston. It’s a visual representation of how she’s trying to build something new while being pulled back into the shadows of her past.
Does it stay true to the book?
Mostly. Fans of the novel will notice some shifts. The ages of the characters were bumped up, which was a point of contention online for months. In the book, Lily is in her early 20s. In the film, she’s clearly older. This change actually adds a layer of maturity to the decisions she has to make. It makes her professional success feel more earned.
The dialogue pulls heavily from Hoover’s prose, which can be a double-edged sword. Some lines that work on the page feel a little "written" when spoken out loud. But the chemistry between Lively and Sklenar is undeniable. When they are on screen together, the movie breathes.
🔗 Read more: Love Island UK Who Is Still Together: The Reality of Romance After the Villa
The Controversy That Followed the Premiere
You can't talk about it ends with us in theaters without talking about the press tour. It was... weird. There was a noticeable divide. On one side, you had Justin Baldoni talking almost exclusively about domestic violence awareness and the work of organizations like No More. On the other side, the marketing featured "grab your girls" promos and floral-themed pop-ups.
Critics picked up on this immediately. Some felt the film was being sold as a breezy "rom-com" when it’s actually a drama about trauma. This disconnect sparked a massive conversation about how we market stories involving abuse. Is it okay to make a "trendy" movie out of a tragic situation?
- The "Cast Rift" rumors: The internet went into detective mode when the cast didn't pose for photos together at the premiere.
- The Tone Shift: Fans were divided on whether the movie should have been darker or if the Hollywood gloss helped make the message more accessible to a wider audience.
- The Soundtrack: Featuring Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, the music definitely leaned into the emotional "vibe" that Gen Z and Millennials crave.
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, the box office numbers were huge. It proved that there is a massive, underserved audience for female-driven dramas. People want to see these stories on the big screen, not just streaming on their phones.
Understanding the "Cycle of Violence" Message
The core of the movie—and why it resonated so deeply—is the idea that breaking a cycle is an act of extreme bravery. It’s not just about leaving; it’s about the mental shift required to say "this ends with me."
The film handles the "first incident" with Ryle in a way that is intentionally confusing. The camera work mimics Lily’s own denial. You aren't sure exactly what you saw until the movie forces you to look at it again later through a clearer lens. It’s a powerful cinematic trick. It puts the audience in the shoes of someone who wants to believe the person they love didn't just hurt them.
Experts in the field of domestic advocacy often point out that the most dangerous time for a victim is when they leave. The movie touches on this tension. It shows the manipulation, the apologies, and the "love bombing" that makes exiting a relationship so incredibly difficult.
The Atlas Factor
Atlas is the "what if." He represents the safety Lily never had. But the movie is careful not to make him just a "knight in shining armor." While he’s there for her, the ultimate decision to leave Ryle has to be Lily’s. It’s not about choosing one man over another; it’s about Lily choosing herself and her future child.
💡 You might also like: Gwendoline Butler Dead in a Row: Why This 1957 Mystery Still Packs a Punch
That distinction is vital. If she just jumped from Ryle to Atlas, the message of independence might have been lost. Instead, the ending feels like a hard-won peace.
Why the Theatrical Release Mattered
There’s something about the scale of a theater that makes the emotional beats land harder. When Lily is standing on that balcony, the height feels real. When she’s in the hospital, the silence of the room feels heavy.
It ends with us in theaters also benefited from the "community" aspect of cinema. Seeing people walk out of the theater wiping away tears or huddled in deep conversation in the lobby shows the impact. It’s a conversation starter. Whether you loved the floral outfits or found them distracting, you were talking about the movie.
It also challenged the industry’s idea of a "summer blockbuster." We’re used to superheroes and explosions in August. To have a mid-budget drama dominate the charts was a wake-up call for studios. It showed that "BookTok" isn't just a niche corner of the internet; it’s a market force.
What to Keep in Mind if You’re Watching Now
If you haven't seen it yet, or if you're planning a re-watch, it's worth paying attention to the production design. Lily’s apartment is filled with "clutter" that feels like a real person lives there. It’s not a sterile movie set. Every plant, every mismatched chair tells a story of someone trying to root themselves in a new life.
Also, keep an eye on Ryle’s behavior in the "quiet" moments. The film does a great job of showing the red flags that aren't physical. The way he takes up space, the way he subtly dismisses Lily’s concerns—it’s all there from the beginning if you’re looking for it.
- Look for the symbolism: The theme of "gardening" and "weeds" isn't just for show. It represents the effort required to keep a life healthy.
- The Soundtrack timing: Notice when the music cuts out. The most impactful scenes are often played in total silence.
- The Perspective shift: Pay attention to how the movie re-contextualizes earlier scenes toward the end. It’s a lesson in how memory can be edited by trauma.
Moving Forward From the Film
The legacy of this film will likely be its ability to spark difficult conversations at the dinner table. It’s not a perfect movie, and the marketing choices will probably be studied in PR classes for years to come. But it reached people.
📖 Related: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
If you or someone you know is affected by the themes in the movie, it’s important to remember that real-world resources are available. The film's partnership with organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline was a necessary step in grounding the fiction in reality.
Practical Next Steps for Fans and Viewers:
First, if the movie's themes hit a little too close to home, take a moment to decompress. It’s heavy stuff. If you're looking for more context, reading the "Author's Note" at the end of the original novel provides a lot of insight into why Colleen Hoover wrote this story—it’s actually based on her own mother’s experience.
Next, check out the work of the DV awareness organizations that Justin Baldoni highlighted during the press tour. They offer actual toolkits for identifying red flags in relationships, which can be life-saving information.
Finally, if you’re interested in the filmmaking side, look for interviews with the cinematographer. The way they used color to differentiate between the past and the present is one of the most sophisticated parts of the production. It turns a standard drama into something that feels much more layered and intentional.
The hype might fade, but the questions the movie asks about love, patterns, and the courage to walk away aren't going anywhere.