Blake Lively was thrilled after her ‘unhinged’ new film, Another Simple Favor, took the number one spot worldwide on Prime Video.
The 37-year-old actress expressed her admiration for the movie on her Instagram Stories, just a day after hinting at her ‘intense’ legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director, Justin Baldoni.
‘Thank you all for watching @asimplefavor,’ she posted, alongside a photo of herself and Anna Kendrick, 39, from the film, which is a follow-up to the 2018 A Simple Favor.
‘We’re all so proud of this absolutely bonkers, unhinged movie,’ Blake continued. She expressed her gratitude to the 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 Another Simple Favor premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival in March, the critics delivered their verdicts – and two important ones have not been kind.
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
‘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.
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.’
