20 Movies To Watch if You Love ‘It Ends With Us’

It Ends With Us was the novel that launched Colleen Hoover from just another writer to one of the best-selling novelists. Now that the novel has been adapted into a movie, more people are getting to know the story Hoover wrote back in 2016. It Ends With Us follows florist Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), who moves to Boston following her father’s funeral and meets a neurosurgeon named Ryle (Justin Baldoni), eventually getting married. But after a while, Ryle starts to abuse Lily, and she has to decide whether she will leave him as her childhood love, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), reappears in her life.

With the huge success of the novel, it is no surprise that the movie followed suit at the box office. It Ends With Us deals with many different themes, which makes it easier for fans to find similar movies. From resilient women fighting against their abusers to reconnection between past lovers, movies like Sleeping With the Enemy and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are perfect to watch for those who enjoyed It Ends With Us.

20

‘Luckiest Girl Alive’ (2022)

Directed by Mike Barker

In an exploration of adolescent trauma, this Netflix original takes viewers through the psychological journey of a young woman who carefully curated her past. Luckiest Girl Alive stars Mila Kunisas Ani Fanelli, a New York woman who seemingly has everything together: the perfect job, the perfect life, and a perfect upcoming wedding. Her built facade becomes threatened when the director of a crime documentary encourages Ani to openly discuss the shocking events of her private school days.

Like Lily, Ani must decide whether she will let her past or present decide her future. As Luckiest Girl Alive progresses, Ani’s grip on her external narrative is challenged by the resurfaced emotional and sexual trauma, complicating her relationship and outlook on her life. Both films share female protagonists who are forced to reckon with what’s right in front of them, making Luckiest Girl Alive a must-see for fans looking for movies similar to It Ends With Us. —Ali Teske

19

‘Sweet Dreams’ (1985)

Directed by Karel Reisz

Diving deep into the biopic genre of famous musicians, Sweet Dreams shares similarities with It Ends With Us in more ways than imagined. The movie is the story of country music singer Patsy Cline (Jessica Lange) and her rise to fame before her untimely, tragic death. Ed Harris co-stars as Charlie Dick, Patsy’s second husband who is the other half of a tumultuous marriage.

Patsy is a career-driven woman who has to put her music on hold to become a mother while navigating a toxic marriage with Charlie. The pair constantly fight, but somehow always come back to each other. It Ends With Us shares mirroring strife as Lily pursues starting her own floral business while being drawn away from it due to her abusive marriage. For a dramatic movie based on real-life that is similar to It Ends With Us, Sweet Dreams and Patsy Cline’s story are the way to go. —Ali Teske

18

‘We Live in Time’ (2024)

Directed by John Crowley

Similarly to It Ends With Us, We Live in Time initially presents itself to be a traditional romantic drama before revealing a much more emotional and heartbreaking core with its central message and theme. While It Ends With Us delves into the intricacies of abuse, We Live in Time tackles the grief and pain of a terminal disease in a relationship, as well as enjoying the good moments of the past and present before loved ones are lost. It stands alongside It Ends With Us as one of the most popular and fan-favorite romantic dramas of recent memory.

Both films get a lot of mileage out of the inherent chemistry and likability of their leads, allowing them to slowly delve into darker and more emotional content throughout the film. We Live in Time specifically has a more bittersweet energy to it than It Ends with Us, as it centers on the ups and downs of a single relationship over a love triangle. Both films also place a lot of emphasis on the passionate occupations of their female leads, with Lily’s floral shop in It Ends With Us and Almut’s work as a chef in We Live in Time. —Robert Lee

17

‘Precious’ (2009)

Directed by Lee Daniels

This Oscar-winning adaptation takes an unforgiving look inside the life of a young woman enduring enough trauma and abuse to last a lifetime. Based on the novel Push, Precious is the story of a 16-year-old inner-city woman named Clarieece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) who is illiterate and pregnant with her second child. Precious’s only hope to turn her life around and escape the abuse of her mother (Mo’Nique) comes when she enrolls in an alternative school.

While audiences have varying levels of skepticism surrounding the realism of certain moments in It Ends With Us, there is no such hesitation in Precious. The drama is brutally honest, garnering a strong emotional investment from viewers who have experienced the same, much as domestic abuse survivors identified with It Ends With Us. —Ali Teske

16

‘May December’ (2023)

Directed by Todd Haynes

One of the most prominent aspects that makes It Ends With Us such a distinct romantic drama experience is its emphasis placed upon a toxic and destructive relationship at its center, a concept massively explored within May December. The film follows actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman) opening up old wounds in a marriage that became a source of discourse around the world when she is preparing to portray the woman in the relationship, Gracie (Julianne Moore). Elizabeth attempts to do all she can to get into the mindset of the woman whose husband (Charles Melton) she preyed upon and groomed as a child.

While May December certainly tackles an array of disturbing and uncomfortable characters, it provides a touch of calculated levity and tonal dissonance that makes the story simultaneously approachable and chaotic to experience. It acts more as a foray into allowing the likes of Portman, Moore, and Melton to provide some exceptionally top-notch performances, truly delving into the fractured psyches of their respective characters. —Robert Lee

15

‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997)

Directed by Gus Van Sant

In one of the most moving scenes of the entire film, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) reminds Will (Matt Damon) that his childhood trauma is not his fault, a sentiment that additionally rings true for viewers identifying with the characters onscreen. Good Will Hunting is the story of a genius young man, Will, who works as a janitor at MIT, besting the institution’s elitist students with his gifted mind for mathematics. He finds mentorship in Sean’s therapy and the pair form an unexpected friendship that explores the depths of both their grief.

Viewers who like It Ends With Us will find emotional value in the bond formed between its leads. Sean supports Will’s intellectual ability and encourages him to do something with it by using his past to fuel a fight for the future. While Good Will Hunting doesn’t explore the darker themes of domestic abuse, it navigates the murky waters of childhood trauma and its implications in adulthood. —Ali Teske

14

‘Room’ (2015)

Directed by Lenny Abrahamson

Room is one of the most harrowing page-to-screen movies of the last decade, making it a must-watch for readers of It Ends With Us. The Oscar-winning movie is an adaptation of Emma Donoghue‘s novel of the same name about a young woman (Brie Larson) who has been held captive for years, her captor repeatedly assaulting her, and fathering a son she names Jack (Jacob Tremblay). After mother and son make a miraculous escape, Jack learns of the outside world he’s never known, while his mother copes with returning to society.

Room is an emotional journey of the “what’s next” in a survivor’s chapter. Larson’s immaculately moving performance earned her the Oscar for Best Actress with a respective Best Supporting Actor nod to Tremblay. It Ends With Us depicts the entirety of Lily’s unforgiving experience while Room begins with the end of the trauma, both narratives held together by strong, enduring women. —Ali Teske

13

‘Materialists’ (2025)

Directed by Celine Song

The latest love-triangle rom-com that combines the energy and setup of a classic romantic comedy with the themes and execution of a dynamic romance drama, Materialists has the same level of emotional greatness as Celine Song‘s previous romance masterpiece, Past Lives. The film sees Dakota Johnson as ambitious New York matchmaker Lucy, who finds herself in the center of an unexpected love triangle as she is torn between a seemingly perfect match (Pedro Pascal) and her imperfect yet charming ex (Chris Evans).

While it may not use its love triangle premise to delve into painful, more serious topics like It Ends With Us, Materialists is still chock-full of great emotional moments that make it an exceptional romantic drama. The film finds the time to delve into the difficulties and painful truths of relationships, but these moments are tied to relationships outside the main love triangle and Lucy’s job as a matchmaker. —Robert Lee

12

‘Safe Haven’ (2013)

Directed by Lasse Hallström

Safe Haven follows Erin (Julianne Hough), who escapes an abusive marriage and moves to Southport, North Carolina, to begin a new life as Katie. In Southport, Katie meets Alex (Josh Duhamel) who is a widower struggling with raising his two kids, and the two fall in love. However, Katie and Alex’s relationship and happiness are threatened when Katie’s abusive husband, Kevin (David Lyons), sets out to find her.

It Ends With Us shares many thematic similarities with Safe Haven. They are both adaptations of beloved, successful novels, as Safe Haven is an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name. Both movies revolve around women confronting their abusive husbands and trying to find happiness after such a hard event. Both stories revolve around the healing of the female protagonists from past trauma, and they are empowering stories highlighting how resilient women can be.

11

‘The Notebook’ (2004)

Directed by Nick Cassavetes

The Notebook is another Nicholas Sparks adaptation and one of the most iconic romance films today, inspired by a real love story. The movie starts with an elderly man (James Garner) reading to an elderly woman (Gena Rowlands) a love story. Noah (Ryan Gosling) is a poor man who falls in love with the wealthy Allie (Rachel McAdams), a wealthy young woman. However, Allie’s parents’ disapproval of the relationship separates the couple. Seven years later, Noah and Allie reunite, and old feelings reignite.

The Notebook explores a complicated relationship impacted by societal challenges, while It Ends With Us explores a complicated relationship worsened by the abuse of Lily at the hands of Ryle. Both stories have immense emotional depth that impacts the audience and stays with them for a while. Finally, personal growth and character development are central to both stories. While the plots of The Notebook and It Ends With Us aren’t completely identical, fans of either movie will enjoy the other.