Hollywood loves a good drama, and sometimes, the real-life stories are even more intense than what we see on screen. That’s certainly the case with the upcoming movie It Ends With Us. New court papers have pulled back the curtain on what Blake Lively was set to earn for her role. These documents reveal a hefty payday for the actress, including a salary over $1.7 million and a stack of bonuses.
This peek into Lively’s potential earnings comes from an unsigned draft of her contract. It was brought to light as part of the ongoing legal battle between Lively, 38, and her co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, 41. According to an exclusive report by a prominent news channel, Us Weekly, these details were made public on Thursday, October 9, when Baldoni and his team filed the court papers.
The legal fight centers around the 2024 film It Ends With Us. Lively has accused Baldoni of sexual harassment during the movie’s production. Baldoni, for his part, strongly denies these claims. The contract draft was part of the evidence submitted in this long-running dispute.
Blake Lively XNY/Star Max/GC Images
The contract draft, dated May 5, 2023, shows that Lively was offered $1.75 million as a "fixed compensation" to play Lily Bloom. This role is in the movie version of Colleen Hoover’s popular novel. Filming for It Ends With Us started on May 10, 2023, and lasted for seven weeks. Most of the production took place in New Jersey.
Beyond the fixed salary, the deal Lively and her team reached included a percentage of the film’s earnings. She was set to receive 10% of the movie’s gross revenue. On top of that, millions more could have landed in her pocket through various bonuses. These bonuses depended on how well the movie did at the box office and if she received any award nominations.
The box office bonuses were structured in tiers. Lively would get $250,000 if the movie’s gross earnings reached three times its "direct cost." Another $250,000 would follow for hitting a second milestone, and a third $250,000 for even higher earnings. A final $250,000 bonus was planned if the movie’s total gross hit five times the direct production cost.
Award season also had big money attached. An Oscar nomination would bring her $100,000, and an Oscar win meant $200,000. For a Golden Globe nod, she would get $75,000, with a $100,000 payout for a win. A SAG Award nomination was worth $50,000, and taking home the trophy added $75,000. It’s worth noting that Lively did not receive any of these nominations.
Blake Lively Aeon/GC Images
Beyond the cash, the contract outlined some key perks for the Gossip Girl alum. She would get to approve her driver and have exclusive use of a personal mobile dressing room with all the usual comforts while filming in New Jersey. The agreement also set aside $1,000 each week for her training and meals.
When filming shifted to Las Vegas, the deal called for a private jet. This jet needed enough room for Lively, her four children, her assistant, two nannies, and her security team. An extra $1,500 was also included to cover the assistant’s fees. The contract also pushed for all disagreements to be handled through arbitration, keeping them out of public court battles.
However, the current situation is far from private. As Us Weekly previously reported, Lively has sued Baldoni over her experiences on set. She claims that after she made her complaints, he hired a crisis public relations team. Her legal team argues this was to smear her name in the press as a way to get back at her. Baldoni has denied any wrongdoing. In fact, he claims Lively’s accusations damaged his own reputation. The two sides are set to face off in court. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 9, 2026.