It ends with Qatar.
Blake Lively’s new romantic drama “It Ends With Us” has reportedly been banned from movie screens in Qatar because of the film’s kissing scenes.
The nation’s Censorship Committee – which has the final word on what plays in Qatari theaters – was behind the decision to block the PG-13 film, according to Deadline and Variety.
Based on the popular Colleen Hoover novel of the same name, “It Ends With Us” focuses its story on domestic abuse and a woman’s struggle to leave a toxic relationship.
The Justin Baldoni-directed flick features multiple kissing scenes and non-graphic sex scenes in which the characters wear underwear.
Located on the Northeastern Coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East, Qatar has a long history of banning Hollywood films from its cinemas.
Other recent PG-13 releases blocked from exhibition in Qatar include Greta Gerwig’s feminist “Barbie,” the animated adventure “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” and two Marvel projects, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” and “Eternals.”
Unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of R-rated flicks that has also failed to garner the Censorship Committee’s approval for predictable reasons.
“No Hard Feelings” had a naked Jennifer Lawrence; the Buzz Lightyear/ “Toy Story” spinoff “Lightyear” included a same-sex kiss; the Pixar movie “Onward” hinted at a character being lesbian; and the steamy Glen Powell/Sydney Sweeney romance “Anyone but You” which was, well, a steamy romance.
In addition to outright rejecting films from showing in Qatar, the Censorship Committee has also asked filmmakers to make edits to their movies to get them cleared.
Disney balked at requested cuts to Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of “West Side Story,” cuts that centered around the character Anybodys, who is depicted as transgender and played by non-binary actor Iris Menas.
Censorship issues aside, the “It Ends With Us” team won’t be crying over any lost Qatari profits.
The female-focused flick stunned Hollywood after it raked in a whopping $7 million in its Thursday previews, exceeding industry projections.
Now, star Lively could be set for a box office face-off with husband Ryan Reynolds and his Marvel movie, “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
As of midday Friday, August 9, Reynold’s reprise as the red-suited Deadpool is looking to bring in $53 million in its third weekend. Meanwhile, “It Ends With Us” is eyeing an opening weekend in the mid $40 million range. That said, speculation continues to mount, suggesting the estimates for “It Ends With Us” are low, a view bolstered by the Thursday preview numbers.
The opening weekend numbers for “It Ends With Us” could also be boosted by interest in the growing controversy surrounding the film.
According to multiple sources who spoke to Page Six, Lively and director Baldoni clashed on the set of the film. Baldoni created an “extremely difficult” atmosphere for the entire cast, claimed one insider, with another alleging that Baldoni made Lively feel “uncomfortable” about her postpartum body.
The actress jumped aboard the movie shortly after giving birth to her son Olin, her fourth child with Reynolds.
At the movie’s premiere on Thursday, August 8, Lively and Baldoni appeared to avoid each other. The pair have also not done any promotion together.
Many online are already referring to “It Ends With Us” as the next “Don’t Worry, Darling,” the 2022 Olivia Wilde-helmed movie starring Harry Styles, Florence Pugh, Chris Pine and Wilde.
The press tour for that film was closely followed by eagle-eyed social media sleuths who dissected every on-camera moment, social media comment and post for hints of the alleged rift that reportedly played out between the cast and director.
As to whether the controversy helped that film rake in ticket sales, some say yes, while others say no.
Regardless, it looks like “It Ends With Us” will end up doing just fine at the box office — controversy or not.
