AceShowbiz - In a rare and exhilarating box office showdown, both Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have emerged victorious, dominating the domestic box office this past weekend. Reynolds' "Deadpool & Wolverine" continued its reign, pulling in $54.2 million in its third weekend. Meanwhile, Lively's "It Ends With Us" had a spectacular debut, collecting $50 million.

This remarkable feat has not occurred since Bruce Willis and Demi Moore saw their films, "Die Hard 2" and "Ghost," achieve the top positions back in 1990.

Reynolds and Lively's films couldn't be more different. "Deadpool & Wolverine", co-starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy, is a high-octane Marvel adventure. Its success is unparalleled, grossing over $494.3 million domestically and surpassing $1.02 billion globally, making it only the second R-rated film to achieve such a milestone since 2019's "Joker".

On the other hand, "It Ends With Us" is a romance drama adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. The film starring Lively as Lily Bloom, alongside Justin Baldoni and Brandon Sklenar, has received a positive CinemaScore of A- and has captured the hearts of romantic drama enthusiasts.

The impressive performance of both movies has drawn comparisons to cultural phenomena like "Barbenheimer", showcasing how diverse genres can thrive concurrently. Together, these films have made August a surprisingly lucrative month for theaters, traditionally considered a slow period for new releases.

"It Ends With Us" is particularly noteworthy as it has harnessed the power of TikTok and targeted female audiences, bringing infrequent moviegoers back to cinemas. This has sparked discussions about the potential for a sequel, given the success of Hoover's novel "It Starts With Us."

Reynolds and Lively have enjoyed this historic moment, engaging in playful promotions that helped stir excitement and anticipation for their releases. Notably, Reynolds posted an entertaining video involving Brandon Sklenar, one of Lively's co-stars.

However, not all movies shared the same level of success this past weekend. "Borderlands", an adaptation of the popular video game featuring stars like Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart, flopped significantly with just $8.8 million in earnings, despite its substantial $120 million budget. In contrast, other films like "Twisters" and "Despicable Me 4" continued to perform solidly, earning $15 million and $8 million, respectively.

Top 10 of North American Box Office (Aug. 09-11, 2024):

1. "Deadpool & Wolverine" - $54.2 million
2. "It Ends With Us" - $50 million
3. "Twisters" - $15 million
4. "Borderlands" - $8.8 million
5. "Despicable Me 4" - $8 million
6. "Trap" - $6.7 million
7. "Inside Out 2" - $4.95 million
8. "Harold and the Purple Crayon" - $3.1 million
9. "Cuckoo" - $3 million
10. "Longlegs" - $2 million