We knew it would be big, but could anyone have guessed this big? Universal Pictures’ adaptation of E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey has dominated the worldwide box office since its rollout started on February 11 and has amassed an impressive $267 million so far!
The Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed film, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, earned $85 million from 3,646 domestic theaters over the three-day portion of the four-day Presidents’ Day weekend (averaging $23,325 per theater), setting a new February opening record over Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ, which previously held the record with $83.8 million. Fifty Shades’ four-day estimate for the holiday weekend is $95.4 million, which as one might expect, also sets a record for the Presidents’ Day weekend, which was previously set by Warner Bros.’ Valentine’s Day with $63.1 million.
It has already reached $172 million internationally in 58 markets, the biggest international opening ever for an R-rated movie, beating previous record holder The Matrix Revolutions‘ $117 million. Fifty Shades of Grey is also playing in 85 IMAX screens, which are expected to deliver $2.1 million for the long weekend.
Made for just $40 million, the film marks the biggest international opening of 2015 so far and makes it Universal’s second-biggest international opening ever, trailing just Fast & Furious 6‘s $160.3 million from 2013. The film is now also the third-biggest domestic R-rated opening ever, trailing just The Matrix Reloaded‘s $91.8 million and The Hangover Part II‘s $85.9 million.
Opening in second place was 20th Century Fox’s Kingsman: The Secret Service (check out 9 cool references from Kingsman in the gallery below!) with a strong $35.6 million from 3,204 theaters, an average of $11,111 per theater. It has an estimated gross of $42 million over the four-day weekend which puts it in the Top 7 for the holiday weekend.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn, the film stars Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophie Cookson, Sofia Boutella and Michael Caine and is loosely based on the comic by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. Internationally, the action movie has reached $43.8 million for a worldwide total of $79.4 million. The adaptation cost about $81 million to make.
Coming in at No. 3 at the domestic box office was Paramount’s The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, which dropped just 44.8% its second weekend and added $30.5 million for a domestic total of $93.7 million so far. Internationally, the $74-million movie has brought in $46.3 million. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie earned $140.2 million at the worldwide box office in 2004, while “Sponge Out of Water” has already reached $140 million in just two weeks.
Dropping two spots to fourth place was the Clint Eastwood-directed American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. The film earned yet another $16.4 million its eighth weekend in theaters and has now grossed $304.1 million domestically. The Warner Bros. Pictures release is the third-biggest at the domestic box office, trailing only The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1‘s $336.2 million and Guardians of the Galaxy‘s $333.2 million. Internationally, the $60-million drama has brought in $85.7 million for a wolrdwide total of $389.8 million.
Rounding out the top five domestically was the Wachowskis’ Jupiter Ascending, starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum, with $9.4 million. The sci-fi action adventure has earned $32.6 million. The Warner Bros. release has grossed $58.9 million internationally for a global take of $91.5 million, far below its reported budget of $176 million.
9 COOL REFERENCES FROM KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE
Coolest Kingsman References
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Spy Movie References
The most obvious references are the ones that hark back to the spy movies and shows of the ‘60s and ‘70s, which inspired Kingsman, including everything from the villain’s lair at the end of Kingsman that harks back to the greatest Bond villain hideouts including Blofeld’s volcano lair in You Only Live Twice (pictured) and a changing room that turns into an elevator which has been used in "Man from UNCLE" as well as Marvel's SHIELD comics.
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I Want My MTV
The film opens up with that famous line from Dire Strait’s “Money for Nothing,” sung by popstar Sting, who appeared in Vaughn’s early production, Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (co-produced by Sting’s wife Trudi Styler).
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Mark Hamill
Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker plays Dr. James Arnold, a scientist kidnapped in Kingsman although in the comics, it’s the actual Mark Hamill who is kidnapped by the “Star Wars” fan villain, who is actually Dr. James Arnold in the comics vs. Samuel L. Jackson’s Richmond Valentine.
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Trading Places
Colin Firth’s Harry Hart makes a comment to Eggsy about his situation being a bit like the 1983 Eddie Murphy-Dan Aykroyd comedy about a homeless guy who is brought into the world of high finances, drawing a parallel to Eggsy’s recruitment.
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Russell Simmons
The Def Jam hip-hop mogul was one of the inspirations for Samuel L. Jackson’s Richmond Valentine, particularly his dress style, complete with NYC baseball cap.
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Maxwell Smart-phone
There are plenty of Bond references, but there are also a few sly references to the ‘60s television show “Get Smart," starring Don Adams, including a nod to the famous shoe phone he used.
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The Knights of the Round Table
Kingsmen agents are named after the famed knights led by King Arthur with Michael Caine playing Arthur, Colin Firth as Galahad, Mark Strong as Merlin, etc. This might not seem particularly groundbreaking, until you realize that these names weren’t use in the comics and that Vaughn’s former collaborator Guy Ritchie’s next movie is about the Knights of the Round Table.
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KC and the Sunshine Band / Lynyrd Skynyrd
You wouldn’t expect either group to show up in the soundtrack of a spy movie, but in fact “Freebird” and “Give It Up” are used during two of the film’s craziest and most unforgettable action sequences.
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Happy Valentine's Day!
Even the movie’s U.S. release date is a clever nod, since it comes out on February 13, the day before a certain Hallmark holiday. It might seem random until you realize that Jackson’s baddie is named "Valentine" and he sets his masterplan on “V-Day.” So maybe moving the release from last October might make more sense as it pays homage to Jackson's quirky but unforgettable bad guy.
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Where is Jason Flemyng?
Not really a reference as much as an odd factoid, but Jason Flemyng has appeared in every single one of Vaughn’s films as a director and a number of the films he produced, but he’s noticeably absent in “Kingsman." There are a few roles he probably could have played and we thought maybe he appeared in a pivotal church sequence but turns out that's not the case. You can find out why in our upcoming interview with Vaughn.
