Universal’s Fifty Shades of Grey continued to exceed expectations on Sunday for a potent $94.5 million domestic debut over the long Presidents Day weekend, shattering several records and putting the film’s global launch at a massive $245.5 million.
That includes $85 million for the three-day weekend, eclipsing the $83.8 million launch of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ ($83.8 million) to mark the biggest opening ever for the month of February, not accounting for inflation. It’s also the biggest Valentine’s Day/Presidents Day gross of all time, and the No. 3 opening for an R-rated title. The record-holder is the R-rated The Matrix Reloaded, which posted a three-day debut of $91.8 million in 2003.
