Valentine's Day viewing of choice: Fifty Shades of Grey breaks box office records

The movie adaptation of EL James’ bestselling erotic novel made a massive £4.6 million on Friday night alone.

16:57 16 February 2015

Fifty Shades of Grey, the movie adaptation of EL James’ bestselling erotic novel has broken box office records after it made a massive £4.6 million on its opening day. It is currently the record-holder for the biggest opening of an 18-rated film.

Sam Taylor Johnson’s film was also popular state-side, breaking more records by becoming the highest grossing Presidents Day Weekend opener ever after making $81.7 million.

Fifty Shades was also a big hit in other territories, earning an estimated $158 million to bring its total to $239.7 million, as confirmed by Universal Pictures.

“These are summer-style blockbuster numbers in February,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak. “It had that whole sex thing going for it, it was edgy and it started a conversation.

“It went beyond being a girls’ night out movie and became a date night movie.”

 

The movie, which has been larged derided by the critics, stars Dakota Johnson as a student who enters a dominating sexual relationship with an enigmatic billionaire (played by Jamie Dornan).