Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are 1st married duo to top charts since Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in 1990
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a rare Hollywood achievement, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have become the first married couple in 34 years to dominate the domestic box office with their films holding the top two spots.
Since the premiere of Lively’s 'It Ends With Us' and Reynolds's 'Deadpool & Wolverine', both films have been dominating the box office, bringing in millions.
This impressive feat recalls the 1990 success of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who last held the top two box office positions as a couple. As 'Deadpool & Wolverine' and 'It Ends With Us' light up theaters, Reynolds and Lively's cinematic partnership continues to make waves.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively dominate the box office
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are the first couple in 34 years to have films rank No 1 and No 2 at the box office. Since the premiere of Lively’s 'It Ends With Us' on August 9, the film has already earned $50 million, placing it just behind Reynolds’ 'Deadpool & Wolverine', which has grossed over $54 million this weekend and $494.3 million domestically since its July 26 release.
The last married couple to achieve such a box office milestone were Demi Moore and Bruce Willis in 1990. Willis's 'Die Hard 2' was released on July 3, while Moore’s 'Ghost' premiered less than two weeks later. At one point that year, 'Die Hard 2' and 'Ghost' were the top two films at the box office, respectively.
'Ghost' received five Oscar nominations and won two, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1990 with $217.6 million. 'Die Hard 2' ranked eighth with $117.5 million, as per People.
Moore, 61, and Willis, 69, met at a screening of 'Stakeout' in 1987, married that same year, and had three daughters before divorcing in 2000. Despite their separation, they remain close friends. They appeared together in three films, 'Mortal Thoughts' (1991), 'Beavis and Butt-Head Do America' (1996), and 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle' (2003).
In contrast, Lively and Reynolds have collaborated on 'Green Lantern' (2011) and the upcoming 'IF' (2024), with Lively also making a cameo in 'Deadpool & Wolverine' as Ladypool.
Blake Lively's film outperformed husband Ryan Reynolds's on its opening day
'It Ends With Us', starring and produced by Blake Lively, outperformed the reigning champion 'Deadpool & Wolverine' on its opening day, earning an impressive $24 million, including $11 million from previews. Marvel Studios and Disney's 'Deadpool & Wolverine', directed by Shawn Levy and featuring Ryan Reynolds, grossed $15.7 million on its third Friday.
Most forecasts suggest that 'Deadpool & Wolverine' will likely regain the lead and maintain its position at the top of the domestic charts for a third consecutive weekend, with expected earnings between $50 million and $56 million, pushing its global total past $1 billion.
Opening weekend predictions for 'It Ends With Us' range widely from $47 million to $50 million, with Sony insiders estimating between $45 million and $49 million. This would represent a record opening for Lively in a leading role, as per Hollywood Reporter.
Regardless of the exact figures, the strong performances of both films are a major boost for the August box office. Domestic revenue is projected to be up 35 percent compared to the same weekend last year and 19 percent ahead of 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
Initially, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel was expected to open at around $23 million, though early presales suggested a figure closer to $40 million. With an A-CinemaScore and a 95 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film's success highlights a strong demand for female-led movies.
