In a separate visit, Ryle gets wind of this and he and Atlas come to blows over a bruise on Lily’s face.

But Lily dismisses the injury as an accident, and the couple end up tying the knot. Everything seems picture perfect until Ryle’s jealousy escalates, which becomes a trigger for Lily as she has deep-seated childhood wounds from witnessing her father do the same to her mother.

When Lily learns that she’s pregnant, she has to make a tough decision between staying with the man she loves and breaking the cycle for her unborn child.

While the real-life rift between Lively and Baldoni has left the Hollywood fraternity divided, the chemistry between the actors is unmistakable.

From the onset, the audience is drawn to their love story, empathising with the characters, who have their own emotional baggage from childhood.

I was truly captivated by the movie, particularly due to its exploration of gender-based violence, a deeply relevant and critical issue in South Africa.

From a cinematic perspective, it was beautifully shot with stunning backdrops of the city. Baldoni handled the sensitive subject matter with commendable dexterity.

While he has a stronger presence in the first half of the movie, Lively commands the second half.

She imbues her character with a lively (pun unintended) spirit, masterfully handling the more weighty emotions of anxiety as well. Her bond with Slate plays out so authentically that you would swear they are besties off-screen.

Sklenar's portrayal was also praiseworthy, as he imbued his character with sincere compassion and steadfast love.

“It Ends with Us” is a moving and impactful exploration of a serious issue - don’t be surprised if you are left moist-eyed while watching it.

The lowdown on the Lively vs Baldoni legal battle…

At the film’s US premiere, Lively and Baldoni were seated in different theatres, which immediately sparked talk of there being tension between the two.
On December 20, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of the film.
On December 31, Baldoni sued "The New York Times" for $20 million, alleging libel and false light invasion of privacy. The lawsuit followed the publication of an article about Lively's California complaint. The lawsuit claimed the “Times” misled by using altered communications that were taken out of context and deliberately edited.
On January 16, Baldoni formally filed a civil lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, their publicist Leslie Sloane and Sloane's public relations company, Vision PR. The lawsuit includes allegations of extortion and defamation, among other claims. He accused Lively of having "robbed" him and Wayfarer Studios LLC of control of "It Ends with Us," as well as destroying Baldoni's "personal and professional reputations and livelihood".
While the two await their March 9, 2026, court date, which is expected to resemble the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard spectacle, the Hollywood fraternity and critics alike have chosen sides in the unfolding drama. This division intensified after Baldoni produced receipts to counter some of the claims.

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Watch VideoLove, lawsuits, and Lively drama: unpacking 'It Ends with Us'

Love, lawsuits, and Lively drama: unpacking 'It Ends with Us'