Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have long been one of Hollywood’s most beloved power couples. This past weekend, they extended their dominance beyond red carpets and social media to the box office, delivering a cinematic one-two punch that left both actors celebrating massive wins.

Reynolds’ Deadpool and Wolverine, a Marvel Studios blockbuster co-starring Hugh Jackman, continued its reign as the top movie in North America for the third straight week. The irreverent superhero film brought in $54.2 million over the weekend, pushing its global earnings past the monumental $1 billion mark. Directed by Shawn Levy, it has now joined the exclusive club of R-rated films to cross that threshold, a feat only previously achieved by 2019’s Joker.

But Reynolds wasn’t the only one shining at the box office. Blake Lively’s romantic drama It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, opened to a stellar $50 million in North America. The film not only exceeded industry expectations but also created an intriguing counterprogramming effect, offering a softer, emotional alternative to the action-packed chaos of Deadpool and Wolverine.

The dual success has been likened to a family-friendly version of “Barbenheimer,” the cultural phenomenon sparked by the simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer. This time, though, the contrast was less about thematic opposites and more about a husband-and-wife duo dominating the entertainment conversation.

The Legacy of Power Couples at the Box Office

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has witnessed a power couple commanding the box office simultaneously. In 1990, Bruce Willis’s Die Hard 2 topped the charts while Demi Moore’s Ghost came in second, showcasing how star power can amplify excitement across vastly different genres. Reynolds and Lively’s recent achievement echoes that history, albeit with a modern twist, bolstered by social media engagement and fan-driven hype.

A Tale of Two Films

For Reynolds, Deadpool and Wolverine solidifies his status as a Marvel heavyweight. The film, featuring his iconic portrayal of the “Merc with a Mouth” alongside Jackman’s Wolverine, has already become one of Marvel’s most lucrative releases. Its blend of biting humor and high-octane action continues to draw audiences, cementing its place as a record-breaking blockbuster.

Meanwhile, Lively’s It Ends With Us showcases her versatility as both an actress and a producer. In the film, she stars as Lily Bloom, a Boston florist navigating a complicated love triangle between her current partner (played by Justin Baldoni, who also directed) and her first love (portrayed by Brandon Sklenar). The adaptation, made on a modest $25 million budget, is already poised for profitability, with strong word-of-mouth likely to sustain its momentum through the quieter August box office period.

The film’s A CinemaScore rating signals its appeal among audiences, echoing the success of another book-to-screen adaptation, Where the Crawdads Sing. Much like that summer sleeper hit, It Ends With Us is expected to resonate with viewers long after its opening weekend.

A Strategic Collaboration

Reynolds and Lively have skillfully embraced their shared weekend spotlight. Earlier in the week, Reynolds humorously posted a video of himself “interviewing” Brandon Sklenar, Lively’s co-star, during a junket for It Ends With Us. The playful banter added to the buzz around their films, further fueling fan excitement.

For Lively, the timing couldn’t have been better. The strong debut of It Ends With Us not only exceeded initial forecasts but also reinforced her growing influence in the industry, both in front of and behind the camera.

A Flop in the Shadows

Not every release over the weekend shared the same success. Lionsgate’s long-delayed Borderlands, directed by Eli Roth and starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, stumbled with a dismal $8.8 million opening. Plagued by production delays and poor critical reception—earning a mere 10% on Rotten Tomatoes—the $120 million video game adaptation seems destined for box office obscurity.

A Victory for the Fans

The triumph of Deadpool and Wolverine and It Ends With Us reflects not just the star power of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively but also their ability to connect with audiences across genres. Together, they’ve proven that action-packed blockbusters and heartfelt dramas can coexist and thrive, particularly when backed by Hollywood’s most charismatic couple.

As both films continue their box office journeys, one thing is clear: Reynolds and Lively are a force to be reckoned with, both individually and as a team. Fans of the couple—and moviegoers in general—will be eager to see what this dynamic duo conquers next.