It Ends With Us starring Blake Lively is set to blossom in theaters and do well at the box office, especially because it is adapted from the best-selling book by Colleen Hoover. Directed by Justin Baldoni, who also stars in the film as Ryle, the movie centers on Lily Bloom (Lively) as she falls in love with Ryle, a charismatic neurosurgeon, only to learn that he can have violent moments.
Right as the relationship with Ryle gets more serious, Lily experiences a blast from the past as she runs into her first love Atlas (Brandon Sklenar) who is now a chef living in Boston like he dreamed of when they were in high school. From here, on Lily faces a choice, and it’s not between the two men, but rather whether to stay with or leave Ryle.
We’ve rounded up some movies with similar themes (both light and dark) that center women’s stories. Justin Baldoni has also previously directedFive Feet Apart (2019) based on the YA novel of the same name and starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson.Read on for your next watch after It Ends With Us hits theaters August 9.
One True Loves (2023)
Philippa Soo stars as Emma Blair in One True Loves, based on the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her two love interests are Jesse (Luke Bracey) and Sam (Simu Liu) for different reasons. Emma married Jesse, but he gets lost at sea, and in an attempt to move on, Emma fell in love with Sam, but then Jesse turns out to be alive, giving her a tough choice to make. Reid has another romance novel, Forever, Interrupted in development with Laura Dern and Margaret Qualley attached. One True Loves is available to stream on Hulu.
Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)
Adapted by Jessica Knoll from her best-selling book, this story leans more into the thriller genre, but it contains a love story of sorts — a woman coming to terms with a traumatic past and ultimately choosing what’s best for her despite an impending wedding. Mila Kunis plays the titular lucky girl Ani Fanelli, and Chiara Aurelia portrays the younger version of the main character. This is another book adaptation that centers a woman’s story. Luckiest Girl Alive is streaming on Netflix.
Safe Haven (2013)
Based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, Safe Haven stars Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel. Hough’s Katie flees an abusive husband Tierney (David Lyons), changing her name and looks to disguise herself as she starts a new life in Southport, North Carlolina, where she meets widower Alex (Duhamel). Alex’s dead wife Jo (Cobie Smulders) appears to Katie in visions, and ultimately Alex helps Katie face her past. Safe Haven is streaming on Max.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
This collaboration between Hello Sunshine and Sony 3000 pictures is also based on a book, the best-seller of the same name by Delia Owens. Daisy Edgar Jones starred in the summer release as Kya Clark, a young girl whose mother left her living with her abusive father. Kya experiences a love triangle between two very different men: Tate Walker (Taylor John Smith) and Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson). The film contains romance and a murder mystery, making it suspenseful and emotional. Where the Crawdads Sing is currently streaming on Hulu and Fubo.
The Idea of You (2024)
The Idea of You is heavy on the romance with a boyband fanfiction story, based on the book by Robin Lee. Anne Hathaway stars as Soléne Marchand, a forty-something single mother who encounters Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, when she has to step in for her husband at the last minute and take her daughter to Coachella. The Idea of You is streaming on Prime Video.
Love Again (2023)
Starring Priyanka Chopra and the legendary Celine Dion, this Sony film follows Chopra’s grieving Mira Ray, a children’s author and illustrator who lost her boyfriend in a car accident. She texts his old number, which now leads to the phone of Sam Heughan’s music journalist Rob Burns, who interviews Celine Dion. The film is an English-language remake of a German film based on Sofie Cramer’s book. Love Again is now streaming on Netflix.
Me Before You (2016)
Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin headline this romantic drama, based on the book by JoJo Moyes, in which Lou Clark (Clarke) meets Will Traynor (Claflin), whose paralysis has made his will to live decline. The pair’s love story is equal parts devastating and lovely. If you don’t get the tissues out for any others on this list, you might want to for Me Before You 2016), which is not currently streaming anywhere, but available to rent on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
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