I was crying from beginning to end.

And that was just for the previews.

Yes, “It Ends With Us” is a weeper. On a scale of one to five facial tissues, I used three.

“It Ends With Us” is what used to be pejoratively called a “Chick Flick.” It was a dismissive, disparaging and, in contemporary pop-culture studies, an outmoded term.

“It Ends With Us” is much more that. It’s an emotionally-charged, sensitively-acted, directed and written, and with riveting cinematography and editing, and superb soundtrack (Rob Simonsen, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” 2024; “The Whale,” 2022; Duncan Blickenstaff, and song choices (“My Tears Ricochet,” Taylor Swift).

“It Ends With Us” is somewhat of a surprise blockbuster hit based on the 2016 blockbuster best-seller novel by Colleen Hoover. More than 8 million copies of the book have been sold, according to Forbes.

Moreover, and not to be too pedantic, “It Ends With Us” is an important film, perhaps one of the most important in recent years in the Romcom (Romantic Comedy) movie genre, although it’s more of what I would call a Romdra (Romantic Drama).

“It Ends With Us” is important because it deals with the topic of domestic violence, more specifically intimate partner abuse. It does so in a way that is not off-putting. It does not castigate, place blame or indulge in finger-pointing. Rather, “It Ends With Us” seeks to understand its characters and subject matter. “It Ends With Us” begins with us, with you, and with me.

In the movie, “It Ends With Us,” Lily Bloom (Blake Lively) is opening a flower shop in Boston. She meets Ryle (Justin Baldoni), a neurosurgeon.

As the relationship, ahem, blooms between Lily and Ryle, an old flame of Lily’s from high school, Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), reappears.

It’s the love triangle plot with a twist. Lily’s childhood was marred by a father who was abusive to her mother. Lily wants to avoid repeating a pattern in her life.

“It Ends With Us” is a beautiful-looking film, none more so than because of its impossibly good-looking lead actors, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Their lifestyles are aspirational for many of us. The movie is a guilty pleasure.

Blakely Lively (“A Simple Favor,” 2018; “The Shallows,” 2016; “The Age of Adaline,” 2015; “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” 2005; TV’s “Gossip Girl,” 2007-2012) projects a relaxed screen presence with a range of facial expressions from sunny and bright to serious and sensitive. She presents a character that is at once vulnerable and strong. She has a compelling coy confidence. You cannot not look at her and wonder what she’s thinking and feeling every moment she is on the screen.

Justin Baldoni (Director, “Clouds,” 2020; “Five Feet Apart,” 2019; Actor, TV’s “Jane the Virgin,” 2014-2019) is a domineering screen presence. He projects emotions that are less hidden, almost puppy-dog needy. At the same time, there’s a stern resolve and aloofness, a wall that only he can knock down.

Baldoni does double-duty as director of “It Ends With Us.” He seems to be editorially-gracious in his scene-sharing, and, working with Director of Photography Barry Peterson (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” 2023) and Editors Oona Flaherty (“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” 2023) and Robb Sullivan (“The Fault in Our Stars,” 2014) gives a romantic intimacy to dialogue scenes.

The screenplay by Christy Hall (Screenwriter-Director, “Daddio,” 2023; Screenwriter, Creator, TV’s “I Am Not Okay with This,” 2020) delivers dialogue at the speed of millennials. It’s clever, fascinating and bold.

The characters include Ryle’s sister Allysa (Jenny Slate), who helps Lily at her flower shop; Allysa’s husband Marshall (Hasan Minhaj); Lily’s mother (Amy Morton); Young Lily (Isabela Ferrer) and Young Atlas (Alex Neustaedter).

There are hints of a movie sequel based on Colleen Hoover’s book sequel, “It Starts With Us” (2022). Here’s hoping it happens.

Meanwhile, “It Ends With Us” is a good place to start. Don’t miss it. Bring facial tissues.

“It Ends With Us,” MPAA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.) for domestic violence, sexual content and some strong language; Run time: 2 hours, 10 minutes; Genre: Romance, Drama. Distributed by Columbia Pictures-Sony Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “It Ends With Us” was filmed in Plainfield, Hoboken and Jersey City, N.J., and New York City from May 2023 to January 2024, with interruptions because of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Domestic Violence Hotline: “It Ends With Us” includes information about the Domestic Violence Hotline. If you’re experiencing abuse, you can get help. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is: 0808-2000-247.

At The Movies: ”It Ends With Us” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Weekend Box Office, Aug. 23-25: “Deadpool & Wolverine” pulled the old switcheroo, moving up one place back to No. 1 with $18.3 million in 3,840 theaters, $577.2 million, five weeks, edging out “Alien: Romulus” from its one-week at No.1, dropping to No. 2 with $16.2 million in 3,915 theaters, $72.6 million, two weeks.

3. “It Ends with Us” stayed in place with $11.8 million in 3,839 theaters, $120.8 million, three weeks. 4. “Blink Twice,” Zoë Kravitz directorial debut starring Channing Tatum, opening, $7.3 million in 3,067 theaters. 5. ”The Forge,” a faith-based film, opening, $6.6 million in 1,818 theaters. 6. “Twisters” dropped two places, $6.2 million in 3,206 theaters, $248.6 million, six weeks. 7. “Coraline,” $5 million in 1,422 theaters, $24 million, two weeks. 8. “The Crow,” a remake, opening, $4.6 million in 2,752 theaters. 9. “Despicable Me 4” dropped three places, $4.4 million in 2,591 theaters, $348.2 million, eight weeks. 10. “Inside Out 2” dropped two places, $2.1 million in 1,560 theaters, $646.3 million, 11 weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Aug. 25 is subject to change.

Unreel, Aug. 29:

“We Will Dance Again,” No MPAA rating. Yariv Mozer directs the documentary film about the Supernova Music Festival massacre in Israel Oct. 7.

Unreel, Aug. 30:

“Reagan,” PG-13: Sean McNamara directs Dennis Quaid, C. Thomas Howell, Mena Suvari, Penelope Ann Miller, Jon Voight and Kevin Sorbo in the Biography, Drama, History. The life of Ronald Reagan is told.

“AfrAId,” PG-13: Chris Weitz directs John Cho and Katherine Waterston in the Science-Fiction Thriller. An AI digital assistant takes over a family.

“Slingshot,” R: Mikael Håfström directs Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne and Tomer Capone in the Science-Fiction Thriller. An astronaut struggles with reality on a mission to Saturn’s moon Titan.

“You Gotta Believe,” PG: Ty Roberts directs Greg Kinnear and Luke Wilson in the Family Baseball Drama . A Little League team dedicates their season to a player’s dying father in its bid to reach the Little League World Series.

“1992,” R: Ariel Vromen directs Tyrese Gibson, Ray Liotta and Scott Eastwood in the Drama. A shopkeeper tries to save his son during the 1992 Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King verdict.

“City of Dreams,” R: Mohit Ramchandani directs Jason Patric and Renata Vaca in the Drama. A Mexican boy wants to become a soccer star.

“Tokyo Cowboy,” PG: Marc Marriott directs Arata Iura and Robin Weigert in the Drama. A Japanese businessman visits a Montana dude ranch.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of Aug. 25 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes