'Fifty Shades of Grey' sizzles at the box office, second biggest February debut since 'The Passion of the Christ'
"Fifty Shades of Grey" 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.
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is the second biggest February debut ever, coming in just shy of the $83.9-million mark set by "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004.
The film adaptation of E.L. James' erotic novel is on track to pull in an estimated $90.7 million through the Monday holiday in the U.S. and Canada.
It's already the fastest-selling R-rated film, according to ticket seller Fandango.com, and is boosting prospects for a record-breaking 2015 for cinema owners.
The studio originally projected a far more modest four-day opening weekend of $60 million.
The film, based on the first of a series of novels that have sold more than 100 million copies, had already opened in first place in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Russia, according to Universal.
Combined with the U.S. estimated three-day sales, the worldwide total for the movie is $239.7 million so far, according to a statement from Universal.
Watch the trailer below:
