Blake Lively was thrilled after her ‘unhinged’ new film, Another Simple Favor, took the number one spot worldwide on Prime Video.
The actress, 37, praised the movie on her instagram Stories, a day after alluding to her ‘intense’ legal war with her former co-star and the director of her last movie It Ends With Us, Justin Baldoni, 41.
‘Thank you all for watching @asimplefavor,’ she wrote, sharing an image of her and Anna Kendrick, 39, from the film, which is a sequel to the 2018 A Simple Favor.
‘We’re all so proud of this absolutely bonkers, unhinged movie,’ Blake added. She thanked her fans, writing, ‘Thank you, thank you. We’re so grateful to you.’
In the run-up to its release, Another Simple Favor has seen its promotions overshadowed by the increasingly rancorous legal battle between Blake and Baldoni.
Adding insult to injury, Blake has been trailed by a persistent stream of conjecture that she and Anna do not get along behind the scenes.
Blake Lively, 37, was thrilled after her ‘unhinged’ new film, Another Simple Favor, took the number one spot worldwide on Prime Video; pictured on April 27 in NYC
The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on May 1, and has received lukewarm reviews from critics; Blake seen in a still with co-star Michele Morrone, 34
However Blake brushed off the rumors, sharing another promotional clip of her and Anna doing ASMR.
In Another Simple Favor, Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) reunite in Capri, Italy, for Emily’s opulent wedding to a wealthy Italian, only for murder and betrayal to disrupt the festivities.
After the film premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival in March, the critics delivered their verdicts – and two important ones have not been kind.
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Fans spot baffling detail as Blake Lively breaks silence over 'intense' year in TV comeback
Another Simple Favor was blasted as ‘silly and sometimes trying’ by The Hollywood Reporter, as Variety accused it of ‘samey-sameness’ and noted it ‘drags on.’
The Hollywood Reporter argued that the movie ‘doesn’t prove to be the exception’ to the rule that sequels ‘rarely live up to the standards of their predecessors.’
Lovia Gyarkie, the trade publication’s critic, called the movie ‘often very ridiculous and sometimes trying’ while praising the ‘chemistry’ between Blake and Anna.
She noted that the movie is ‘watchable’ because of the friendship between Blake and Anna’s characters, but added: ‘It’s a shame, then, that these characters and their friendship aren’t more deeply developed.’
The Hollywood Reporter’s critic accused Another Simple Favor of ‘overemphasizing antics to justify its existence’ and complained that the script ‘relies on so much expository dialogue, giving some scenes a mechanical quality.’
Veteran critic Owen Gleiberman wrote in Variety that the movie ‘both diverts and drags on,’ noting that it was ‘more labored than clever.’
The actress praised the movie on her instagram Stories, a day after alluding to her ‘intense’ legal war with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, 41
‘We’re all so proud of this absolutely bonkers, unhinged movie,’ Blake wrote. She thanked her fans, adding, ‘Thank you, thank you. We’re so grateful to you’; seen in a still
She also brushed off rumors of a feud with co-star Anna Kendrick, 39, sharing another promotional clip of them doing ASMR
In Another Simple Favor, Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Lively) reunite in Capri, Italy, for Emily’s opulent wedding to a wealthy Italian, only for murder and betrayal to disrupt the festivities
The film was blasted as ‘silly and sometimes trying’ by The Hollywood Reporter, as Variety accused it of ‘samey-sameness’ and noted it ‘drags on’
Her latest social media post follows Blake’s Thursday appearance on Seth Meyers’ Late Night, her first talk show since her legal dispute with Baldoni started last December.
After Meyers alluded to her conflict with her It Ends With Us director and co-star Justin — whom she’s accused of sexual harassment — he added, ‘I imagine you’re in a situation where you can’t say anything.’
Blake replied, ‘What I can say without going too into it is that this year has been the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in my life and I see so many women around afraid to speak, especially right now, afraid to share their experiences, and fear is by design.’
‘It’s what keeps us silent. But I also acknowledge that many people don’t have the opportunity to speak.’
‘So I do feel fortunate that I’ve been able to and as a woman, you have the ability to use your voice – that’s kept me strong and helped me in my belief and my fight for the world to be safer for women and girls. It’s a pretty simple thing.’
She and Baldoni are set to head to court in March 2026.
Many fans focused on the fact that she was not wearing her wedding ring during her appearance. Instead, Blake wore a big cocktail ring on the middle finger of her left hand.
The fashionista doesn’t always opt to wear her wedding ring for events, and frequently chooses statement costume jewelry.
While on the show Lively said that her four kids, whom she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, have been her ‘lifeline’ during her ‘intense’ year.
The pair, who’ve been married since 2012, share daughters James, 10, Inez, eight, Betty, five, and son Olin, two.
It comes after Blake’s Thursday appearance on Seth Meyers’ Late Night, her first talk show since her legal dispute with Baldoni started last December. She shared how this year had some of her ‘lowest lows’ and how fear is keeping many women ‘silent’ and ‘afraid to speak’
She has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her on set, which he has denied. She and Baldoni are set to head to court in March 2026; he’s seen in 2024
Speaking of her kids — who Blake previously claimed were ‘traumatized’ by the Baldoni drama — the star said: ‘It’s no surprise it’s been a pretty intense year and they’re just my lifeline.’
‘No matter what day I am having, I have to be Disneyland for them. It’s the best, it’s chaos.’
It comes after Lively’s legal woes have taken a turn for the worse, as she has now been subpoenaed by Baldoni’s team.
DailyMail.com has learned the papers were handed to her lawyers last week and asks for all communications – including texts and emails – related to Baldoni and the film that sparked the feud, It Ends With Us.
Lively has accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her during filming and claims he waged a negative publicity campaign against her.
He subsequently hit back and sued the actress and her husband Ryan for $400million, saying her allegations were defamatory and false, and accusing her of attempting to hijack the project.
The legal battle has already seen some zingers aired in court, among them Baldoni’s claim that she tried to threaten him with Reynolds and erstwhile best friend Taylor Swift – referring to the superstars as ‘my dragons’ and comparing herself to Game of Thrones character Khaleesi.
Lively has also been accused of failing to read the novel on which the movie is based until well after filming started and forcing Baldoni and his family to sit in the basement during the premiere.
On top of that, some of her allegations have begun to look dubious such as the claim that Baldoni had nuzzled her neck and told her ‘you smell so good’ during a dancing scene.
Although the mom-of-four claimed it had been filmed with microphones off, DailyMail.com obtained raw footage that showed the sound was on and that the conversation had instead been about the scent of Lively’s fake tan.
The film at the heart of the feud, based on the 2016 bestseller by Colleen Hoover, was released in August and was a box office hit
Attention has now turned to who else could be subpoenaed in the case, with Reynolds odds-on to have his communications scrutinized by Baldoni’s team.
Last week, speculation arose around Swift and Reynolds’ friend Hugh Jackman with reports saying that they too are facing a legal grilling.
Superstar singer Swift is reportedly furious over being dragged into the case and has not been photographed with Lively for months.
Last week, her boyfriend Travis Kelce unfollowed Reynolds in yet another sign that relations between the two couples have cooled.