Fifty Shades of Grey destroys Valentine’s and Presidents Day weekend box office records in the US

I kind of saw this coming with the suspense this movie dragged through the weeks before its showing on Valentine's day. 'Fifty Shades of Grey' earned an estimated $81.7 million from 3,646 theaters in its first three days, smashing valentine's day and President's day weekend box office records in the US. In addition to destroying the weekend records, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' has also become the second-highest February debut ever, behind "Passion of the Christ's" $83.9 million opening in 2004.

Internationally, director Sam Taylor-Johnson's adaptation of E L James' book earned an estimated $158 million from 9,637 locations in 58 territories.

When compared to other films with female directors, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' now holds the record for having the largest North American box office opening. And the North American audiences were 68 percent female.

Audiences were more than curious to check out the big-screen adaptation of the racy phenomenon 'Fifty Shades of Grey' this weekend. The erotic R-rated drama sizzled in its debut, earning an estimated $81.7 million from 3,646 theaters in its first three days, distributor Universal Pictures said on Sunday.

The chart-topping film cost a modest $40 million to produce. Starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan as Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, it could be on track to earn over $90 million across the four-day holiday weekend.

Nick Carpou, Universal's President of Domestic Distribution, was especially pleased that audiences in large, mid-size, and small markets turned out to see the film despite weather challenges in the Northeast.

'We had a tremendous amount of interest from small-town exhibitors,' said Carpou, noting strong outings in the South. 'That speaks to their patrons really wanting to see the film as soon as possible and be part of what everyone is talking about.'

Internationally, director Sam Taylor-Johnson's adaptation of E L James' book earned an estimated $158 million from 9,637 locations in 58 territories. That's the second biggest international opening for Universal, right behind the $160.3 million debut from 'Fast & Furious 6,' and the highest international opening for an R-rated film ever.

'Those are summer-style blockbuster numbers in February,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office firm Rentrak.

'Controversy, or at least the conversation that's created by "Fifty Shades of Grey," suddenly infuses this movie into the mainstream conversation,' he added. 'They had to very carefully create a movie that was edgy, push the envelope, but without going too far to make it socially unacceptable.'