Where Was It Ends With Us Filmed? A Complete Guide To The Movie's Real-World Locations
Have you ever watched a film and been so captivated by its setting that you dreamed of visiting the places on screen? For fans of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel It Ends With Us, the story’s emotional journey is deeply tied to specific locations—a charming flower shop in Boston, the coastal vibes of Maine. But what if we told you that the real-world backdrop for this powerful tale of love and survival was built largely in a completely different state? The burning question for many moviegoers is: where was It Ends With Us filmed? The answer reveals a fascinating story of cinematic ingenuity, logistical planning, and the transformative power of film production to turn familiar streets into entirely new worlds.
The highly anticipated adaptation, starring Blake Lively as the resilient Lily Bloom and Justin Baldoni as the complex neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, premiered to massive global interest. While the narrative is set against the picturesque yet tumultuous landscapes of Boston and a fictional Maine town, the cameras rolled predominantly in the Garden State. This comprehensive guide will take you beyond the screen, exploring every significant filming location, unpacking the production’s challenging timeline, and providing all the details a fan needs to walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters. From the bustling streets of Hoboken to the quiet neighborhoods of Plainfield, we’re mapping out the real-world journey of one of 2024’s most talked-about films.
The Story’s Setting vs. The Real Filming Locations
Boston and Maine on Page, New Jersey on Screen
Although It Ends With Ustakes place in Boston and the fictional town of Plethora, Maine, the production team made a strategic decision to film largely in New Jersey. This choice was driven by a combination of practical factors: New Jersey offers a diverse range of architecture and landscapes within a compact area, competitive tax incentives for filmmakers, and the proximity to major production hubs like New York City. The result is a film where the spirit of the Northeastern United States shines through, even if the specific street signs belong to another state.
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This creative substitution is a classic Hollywood technique. Plainfield, New Jersey was chosen to double as the idyllic, small-town America of Plethora, Maine. This location was critical in visually representing the central theme of the story: the stark contrast between a seemingly perfect, picturesque life and the hidden turmoil of domestic violence. The quaint, tree-lined streets and charming storefronts of Plainfield provide that initial “idealistic small town” facade, making the later revelations of abuse within Lily’s marriage feel all the more jarring and impactful. The production designers and location scouts meticulously selected homes and public spaces that could embody this duality.
Why New Jersey Became the Heart of the Production
New Jersey’s versatility is its greatest asset for filmmakers. The state can convincingly stand in for urban centers, suburban neighborhoods, and coastal towns. For It Ends With Us, this meant:
- Urban Settings: The density and architecture of cities like Hoboken and Jersey City could mimic the feel of Boston’s more metropolitan areas.
- Suburban/Small-Town Feel: Towns like Plainfield offered the classic, almost storybook aesthetic required for Plethora.
- Logistical Hub: Being so close to New York City simplified access to crew, equipment, and talent, while still offering distinct shooting environments.
This approach allowed the film to maintain its Northeastern atmosphere without the immense cost and logistical complexity of shooting entirely in Boston or Maine. It’s a testament to the location team’s skill that audiences will likely feel the setting is authentically New England, even while recognizing specific New Jersey landmarks.
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Primary Filming Locations in New Jersey: Hoboken and Jersey City Take Center Stage
The Main Production Hub: Hoboken and Jersey City
The primary production locations for “It Ends With Us” were in New Jersey, with Hoboken and Jersey City serving as the main bases. These two adjacent cities across the Hudson River from Manhattan provided the perfect blend of urban energy and neighborhood charm needed for key scenes. Hoboken, with its historic brownstones, bustling Washington Street commercial district, and waterfront parks, was likely used for many of Lily’s daily life shots—walking to her flower shop, enjoying a coffee, or navigating her new life post-college.
Jersey City, offering a slightly grittier, more diverse urban landscape with its own distinct neighborhoods like Journal Square and the Newport area, would have been ideal for scenes requiring a busier, more anonymous city feel. The production team shot scenes in various locations throughout New Jersey, utilizing the state’s film-friendly infrastructure. The choice of these cities also made sense for cast and crew convenience, given the frequent need to shoot scenes that also required travel to New York City.
Plainfield, NJ: The Face of Plethora, Maine
As mentioned, Plainfield, New Jersey doubled as the fictional town of Plethora, Maine. This was a crucial casting decision for the film’s tone. Specific residential streets in Plainfield were transformed to represent Lily’s childhood home and the neighborhood where she grew up. The production design team would have added subtle touches—specific paint colors, landscaping, period-appropriate vehicles—to solidify the early 2000s/2010s timeframe and the “perfect town” aesthetic. Visiting Plainfield today, a fan might recognize the layout of streets or the style of porches that appeared in flashback sequences depicting Lily’s upbringing with her parents and her first love, Atlas.
The contrast between these Plainfield locations (representing safety, family, and a simpler past) and the more modern, sleek apartments of Boston (representing her present with Ryle) is a visual narrative cornerstone. The filmmakers used these real New Jersey towns to physically manifest the story’s core conflict.
Additional Shooting in New York and Boston
New York City, New York
While New Jersey was the workhorse, large portions of the drama movie were also shot in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York. New York City filming likely focused on specific, iconic locations that are hard to replicate elsewhere. This could include scenes at airports (for Lily’s travel between Maine and Boston), specific high-end restaurants, or corporate settings for Ryle’s medical career. The sheer scale and recognizable skyline of NYC provide an unmatched backdrop for moments emphasizing Ryle’s success and the couple’s entry into a wealthier, more fast-paced lifestyle.
Boston, Massachusetts
In addition, large portions of the drama movie were also shot in Boston, Massachusetts. This was essential for authenticity where the setting was non-negotiable. Key Boston locations almost certainly include:
- The Flower Shop: The central hub of Lily’s business and independence. The production would have scouted a real storefront in a vibrant Boston neighborhood (likely in areas like Beacon Hill, the South End, or Cambridge) and transformed it into “Lily Bloom’s.”
- Boston Common/Public Garden: These iconic parks are classic New England settings for reflective walks, first dates, and pivotal conversations. Their inclusion grounds the film firmly in its stated Boston setting.
- Hospital Settings: Scenes involving Ryle’s work as a neurosurgeon would have been filmed in a real or specially dressed hospital in the Boston area, leveraging the city’s world-renowned medical campus aesthetics.
- Residential Areas: Upscale Boston neighborhoods would have provided the backdrop for Lily and Ryle’s apartment building and the more affluent environments they inhabit together.
Shooting in these actual Boston locations provided the undeniable “realness” that complements the New Jersey stand-ins, creating a patchwork of the Northeast that feels cohesive on screen.
The Production Timeline: A Journey Interrupted and Completed
A Delayed Start and a Pivotal Pause
The main production started in early May 2023. This kickoff marked the beginning of a seven-month journey to bring Hoover’s novel to life. Blake Lively filmed her scenes for It Ends With Us during the late spring and early summer of May and June 2024—this appears to be a typo in the source material, as principal photography began in 2023. The initial shoot in May 2023 was intense, with the cast and crew building momentum.
However, the 2023 WGA strike the following month forced a temporary halt. The Writers Guild of America strike began in May 2023 and lasted until late September 2023. This industry-wide shutdown meant that It Ends With Us, like almost all other scripted productions, had to pause filming. This interruption is a significant part of the film’s production history, creating a gap in the schedule and requiring careful planning to resume work once the strike concluded.
Wrapping Up a Seven-Month Journey
After the strike resolution, production resumed. Filming predominantly took place in various locations throughout New Jersey and wrapped up by the end of June 2024. This means the entire principal photography process, including the pre-strike shoot and the post-strike completion, spanned approximately seven months of actual filming days spread over a longer calendar period. This timeline is relatively standard for a mid-budget, character-driven drama of this scale, allowing for careful scene construction, especially for the emotionally intense sequences that define the film.
The wrap in June 2024 left just over two months before the film’s late summer release, a tight but manageable window for post-production, editing, scoring, and marketing.
Premiere, Release, and Audience Reception
A Star-Studded New York Premiere
It Ends With Us premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on August 6, 2024. This venue, known for hosting major studio premieres, was packed with the cast—Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar—director Justin Baldoni, author Colleen Hoover, and Sony Pictures executives. The premiere was a high-profile event, generating massive media coverage and fan excitement ahead of the wide release.
The Wide Release
The film was released in the United States on August 9 by Sony Pictures Releasing. The strategic late-summer release date capitalized on the peak moviegoing season and the built-in audience from the novel’s decade-long bestseller status. The film performed strongly at the box office, demonstrating the powerful draw of book-to-film adaptations with passionate fanbases.
Blake Lively: From Gossip Girl to Lily Bloom
Bio Data and Career Transition
Blake Lively’s portrayal of Lily Bloom represents a significant and mature role in her career, moving far from her iconic Gossip Girl character. Her preparation for this emotionally grueling part was intense, as hinted by later-released private voice memos detailing the strain she was under.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Blake Ellender Lively |
| Date of Birth | August 25, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Breakthrough Role | Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl (2007–2012) |
| Key Pre-It Ends With Us Films | The Age of Adaline, A Simple Favor, The Shallows |
| Role in It Ends With Us | Lily Bloom |
| Spouse | Ryan Reynolds (married 2012) |
| Children | 4 |
| Production Company | Briskett Brown (co-founded with husband) |
Lively’s journey to this role involved deep emotional preparation. The film required her to navigate Lily’s spectrum of emotions—from hopeful romance to devastating fear and ultimate empowerment. Her performance has been widely discussed, not only for its technical merit but also for the context of the off-screen controversies that emerged during and after production.
Behind the Scenes: Controversies and Creative Decisions
The Legal Battle and On-Set Dynamics
The production of It Ends With Us was not without significant off-screen turmoil. Justin Baldoni's lawyer invoked 'heated rivalry' in his argument that improvised intimacy on set does not amount to sexual harassment. This statement came during a hearing on January 22, 2026 (note: this is a future date, indicating ongoing or projected legal proceedings) concerning Justin Baldoni's move to have Blake Lively's case thrown out. As of the latest reports, there was no decision from the judge in that hearing.
This legal context has inevitably colored the film’s promotional cycle and audience perception. The allegations and counter-arguments focus on the nature of intimate scenes and the working relationship between the lead actress and director. These real-world tensions add a complex, meta-layer to the film’s own themes of power dynamics and personal agency.
Blake Lively's Private Struggles
Adding another layer to the narrative, Blake Lively’s private voice memo has just become public—and it’s giving fans a rare look at the emotional strain she was under before filming It Ends With Us. This leak suggests that the pressures of the role, combined with the difficult production environment, took a considerable personal toll on the actress. It underscores the immense emotional labor required to perform a story about domestic abuse, especially when the off-set reality may have mirrored some of the on-set power imbalances the film depicts.
These behind-the-scenes elements do not exist in a vacuum; they inform how audiences receive the final product, creating a multifaceted conversation about art, artist, and the realities of modern filmmaking.
Visiting the Filming Locations: A Fan’s Practical Guide
Can You Visit the Real Spots?
The It Ends With Us movie starring Blake Lively was filmed in locations that people can visit in real life. This is a key point for dedicated fans. Unlike some productions that build entirely on soundstages or use private, inaccessible properties, many key settings are in public spaces.
Here’s what to know about the film sets ahead of the premiere and how to plan your visit:
- Hoboken, NJ: Walk along Washington Street to soak in the atmosphere that likely framed Lily’s early independence. Visit Pier A Park for waterfront views reminiscent of scenes of contemplation. The city’s overall vibe is a direct stand-in for Boston’s neighborhoods.
- Plainfield, NJ: Drive through the historic residential districts. While you can’t pinpoint the exact “Lily Bloom house” without insider knowledge, the general aesthetic of the town—its beautiful Victorian and Colonial homes—is exactly what you see in the flashbacks to Plethora. The downtown area may also have been used.
- Boston, MA: This is the easiest for direct identification. Fans can visit the Boston Common and Public Garden to reenact walks. Scout for flower shops in neighborhoods like the South End or Beacon Hill that could have inspired the film’s version. The Boston Harbor Hotel or other iconic buildings might have been used for Ryle’s more upscale moments.
- New York City, NY: Locations here are trickier as they are often generic (a specific hotel lobby, a restaurant). However, keeping an eye on fan forums and location-spotting social media accounts after the film’s release will yield specific addresses.
Practical Tips:
- Respect Privacy: Many locations are private homes or active businesses. Do not trespass or disturb residents.
- Check Local Rules: Some areas (like specific parks or hospital grounds) may have restrictions on commercial photography.
- Use Fan Resources: After the film’s release, dedicated fan sites and apps like “Movie Locations” or Instagram accounts dedicated to film tourism will have mapped exact addresses.
- Combine with a Trip: Both New Jersey and Boston are excellent travel destinations, making a “It Ends With Us tour” a perfect theme for a weekend getaway.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Map of Places
So, where was It Ends With Us filmed? The answer is a tapestry of Northeastern locations, masterfully woven together to tell a story set in Boston and Maine but born in the streets of Hoboken, the homes of Plainfield, and the iconic landmarks of Boston and New York. This strategic use of New Jersey as a production hub highlights the practical artistry of filmmaking—how a location’s essence can be transplanted to serve a narrative.
The journey of the film itself—from a May 2023 start, through a WGA strike-induced pause, to a June 2024 wrap—mirrors the resilience of its protagonist. It’s a story of interruption, adaptation, and final completion. The August 6, 2024 premiere at AMC Lincoln Square and the August 9 release by Sony marked the arrival of a cultural event, built on the foundation of a bestseller and amplified by the star power of Blake Lively.
While the legal controversies involving Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively and the revelation of Lively’s private emotional struggle cast a complex shadow, they also inadvertently echo the film’s core themes of voice, power, and survival. The real-world locations remain tangible, visitable testaments to the story’s impact. Whether you’re a literary pilgrim tracing Lily Bloom’s steps or a cinephile appreciating production design, the places where It Ends With Us was filmed offer a unique connection to a film that sparked conversations far beyond the screen. The next time you’re in Hoboken or Plainfield, look around—you might just be standing in the world of It Ends With Us.
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