--- title: "It Ends with Us: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/it-ends-with-us/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/it-ends-with-us" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # It Ends with Us (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 10 reviews: 4 positive, 1 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, and the critics’ score of 56 sits between two camps rather than describing either. What nearly everyone agrees on is Blake Lively: her performance is called luminous, radiant and wry by admirers and singled out as a highlight by several who dislike the film. Justin Baldoni’s direction earns credit for the abuse scenes themselves, which most critics find tense and sensitively handled, and the chemistry between the leads is noted more than once. The disagreement is over whether those scenes belong in this package. The Telegraph and The Independent both find the splicing of domestic violence with glossy courtship queasy or ludicrous, and the Los Angeles Times argues the adaptation soft-pedals the book and robs its heroine of agency. Even supporters concede thin supporting characters, an over-reliance on flashbacks and a tidy, didactic ending. Fans of the novel are told they will be satisfied; nobody else is promised much. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 August 2024. The film is a winning and emotionally effective transfer of Colleen Hoover’s bestseller to the big screen. Blake Lively anchors a glossy, graceful romantic drama with effective chemistry and a forceful emotional sweep. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/07/it-ends-with-us-review-blake-lively-colleen-hover) ## IndieWire — Proma Khosla Rating B. 7 August 2024. The critic says the film manages to sensitively handle its delicate subject matter, though largely at the cost of a more intricate narrative. It does what it wants by highlighting patterns of abuse, trauma, and silence. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/it-ends-with-us-movie-review-blake-lively-colleen-hoover-justin-baldoni-1235033131/) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2024. The film handles themes of abuse, trauma and recovery unexpectedly well despite clichés, with strong chemistry between leads and sensitive, tense handling of violence. It is sweet, moving and recommended for book fans. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/it-ends-with-us/) ## The Independent — Clarisse Loughrey Rating 2/5. 8 August 2024. The critic finds the adaptation sincere in its handling of abuse but ultimately ludicrous, unable to reconcile its violent themes with silly romance elements and trite sentiment. Lively's performance is praised for its emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/it-ends-with-us-blake-lively-review-b2592442.html) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2024. The film is described as clumsy trauma porn disguised as a rom-com, with a plodding structure and over-reliance on flashbacks that undermine character work. Lively's likability and Jenny Slate's scenes are singled out as highlights. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/it-ends-with-us-review-clumsy-trauma-porn-disguised-as-a-rom-com-3211889) ## The Telegraph — Tim Robey Rating 2/5. 7 August 2024. The film repackages domestic violence as slick romance in a vacuous, queasy way. It splices abuse and glossy courtship to dubious effect, with more attention to furnishings than substance. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/it-ends-with-us-review-coleen-hoover-blake-lively/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2024. The critic finds it an overfamiliar Lifetime-style movie with extra gloss but little insight, criticizing its rote tropes and tidy resolution of abuse themes. She notes Lively is serviceable but faults the lack of depth beyond childhood trauma and conservative messaging. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/it-ends-with-us-review-youve-seen-this-movie-before.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh 9 August 2024. The adaptation soft-pedals domestic abuse from the source novel, blurring lines of manipulation and robbing the heroine of agency to favor romantic fantasy. It offers escapist melodrama with luxe production but muddles harsh realities in a bungled take on women's pictures. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-08-09/it-ends-with-us-review-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-colleen-hoover) ## Sight and Sound 9 August 2024. The critic praises the film's subtle and convincing handling of domestic abuse and its intelligent, deceptive narrative structure, but criticizes the underdeveloped protagonist Lily Bloom and a weak script that leads to a didactic ending. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/it-ends-with-us-sincere-intelligent-drama-suffers-from-underdeveloped-protagonist) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye 7 August 2024. The critic calls it a serviceable but wispy adaptation that should dig deeper into its themes. She praises how it anchors viewers in Lily’s perspective to ease into the abuse storyline but faults the thin characters, contrivances, and missed opportunities for depth. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/it-ends-with-us-review-blake-lively-colleen-hoover-1235967117/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody 7 August 2024. The film channels classic Hollywood melodramas through its fervent romance and Blake Lively's regal, wry performance as a woman confronting abuse and legacy. Baldoni's direction highlights visual intensity and close-ups but falls short of the thematic depth and invention of its influences. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/it-ends-with-us-showcases-blake-livelys-wry-grandeur) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman 7 August 2024. The film is an affecting, emotional soap opera that convincingly turns dark while exploring repeated life patterns through a woman's perspective. Lively delivers a radiant performance, and Baldoni's layered portrayal of the male lead heightens the twists and emotional shrewdness. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/it-ends-with-us-review-blake-lively-1236097332/) ## Collider — Isabella Soares Rating 7/10. 7 August 2024. The film is an emotional and effective depiction of domestic violence, with sensitive direction and strong performances that empower survivors without romanticizing the aggressor. It criticizes the limited development of the Atlas character and under-explored flashbacks. [Read the review](https://collider.com/it-ends-with-us-movie-review/) ## Digital Spy — Mireia Mullor Rating 3/5. 7 August 2024. The critic finds it a pretty satisfying adaptation that will please fans, though far from flawless. Praises Blake Lively's luminous performance and smart changes, but notes it inherits issues from the source and isn't an in-depth study of domestic violence. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61789240/it-ends-with-us-review/) ## /Film — BJ Colangelo Rating 4/10. 7 August 2024. The critic finds the film an infuriating, emotionally manipulative watch and a disservice to the talents of every actor involved, despite good intentions and committed performances. Romance tropes and the source material dilute the nuanced examination of domestic violence. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1637745/it-ends-with-us-movie-review-colleen-hoover-blake-lively/) ## Deadline — Dessi Gomez 7 August 2024. The film is a polished and nuanced adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestseller that effectively captures the emotional complexities of toxic relationships and domestic abuse. Baldoni's direction and Lively's serious performance stand out for balancing romance with the story's heavier themes. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/08/it-ends-with-us-review-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-1236033267/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/it-ends-with-us.md