While “Kingsman: The Secret Service” actually enjoyed a bigger percentage boost on Valentine’s Day, “50 Shades of Grey” commanded significantly more dollars. Insofar as it also did so on Friday and will do so on Sunday, the erotic adaptation earns a dominant victory at the weekend box office.
In total, “50 Shades of Grey” will earn an estimated $81.7 million at the US weekend box office; $67 million of that came by the close of cinemas on Saturday. The aforementioned “Kingsman” trailed with $35.6 million.
Indeed a worldwide phenomenon, “50 Shades” grossed an estimated $158 million from 58 international markets. Its international opening weekend total obliterated the previous $117 million record for an R-rated film (earned by “The Matrix Revolutions”) and its Valentine’s Day total of $55.1 million ranks as the biggest opening day ever for a Universal Pictures International film.
“Fast & Furious 6” previously held the record with a $46.2 million day.
— As far as the US box office goes, “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” ($30.5 million, #3), “American Sniper” ($16.4 million, #4) and “Jupiter Ascending” ($9.4, #5) also landed in the top five.
Thanks to this weekend’s total, “Sniper” now claims a cumulative gross in excess of $300 million ($304.1 million).
