Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds become first couple in 34 years to top box office together

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have more than just their relationship to celebrate this weekend, as the power couple dominated the box office with their respective films. Ryan Reynolds’ Marvel blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine and Blake Lively’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us both made a significant splash, with Deadpool raking in $54 million domestically and It Ends With Us following closely behind with $50 million.

This impressive feat marks Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds as the first married couple in 34 years to hold the top two spots at the box office, a record last set by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in 1990. Back then, Bruce Willis’ Die Hard 2 and Demi Moore’s Ghost also secured the first and second positions, with Ghost eventually becoming the highest-grossing film of the year and earning multiple Oscar nominations.

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine has been a massive success since its July 26 release, amassing $494.3 million at U.S. theaters, making it one of the biggest hits of the post-pandemic era. Meanwhile, It Ends With Us has exceeded expectations, with its $50 million opening weekend marking a significant victory for Blake Lively, who also served as a producer on the film.

However, the promotional tour for It Ends With Us has not been without its challenges. Rumors of on-set tension surfaced as fans noticed awkward moments between the cast and director Justin Baldoni, known for his role in Jane the Virgin. Notably, there were no full cast photos at the film’s premiere, and Justin Baldoni has been handling press duties solo. Blake Lively also revealed that Ryan Reynolds had scripted one of the film’s pivotal scenes, a revelation that surprised screenwriter Christy Hall. The film’s marketing has also faced criticism, with some fans expressing concern that the lighthearted promotional materials might mislead audiences into thinking the movie is a romantic comedy, despite its serious subject matter addressing domestic violence.

ALSO READ: It Ends With Us Review: Blake Lively’s Film Is A Magnificent Adaptation Of Colleen Hoover’s Bestseller

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds first shared the screen in the 2011 box office flop Green Lantern, but 2024 has proven to be a far more successful year for the duo. Earlier this year, they both appeared in the family film IF, and Blake Lively made a cameo as Lady Deadpool, the female counterpart to Ryan Reynolds’ character in Deadpool.