FEBRUARY 17 UPDATE: Universal’s smash S&M romance dominated North America on a confirmed $85.2m three-day debut that toppled The Passion Of The Christ’s 11-year February record and scored $93m over the four-day Presidents’ Day Weekend.

The four-day opening salvo in 3,646 sites delivered a mighty statement and combined with the $173.6m international launch in 58 territories for $266.6m worldwide.

Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan star in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s adaptation of E L James’ story of a young woman’s steamy romance with a troubled billionaire.

Imax cut a late deal with Universal to carry the film on 85 screens and generated $2.1m for the weekend. The Passion Of The Christ established the previous best debut for February on $83.8m over three days in 2004.

Fox’s spy caper Kingsman: The Secret Service starring Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Samuel Jackson and Mark Hamill arrived in second place and was no slouch on $41.8m from 3,204 venues over four days. Matthew Vaughn directed.

Last weekend’s champion The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water fell two places to number three via Paramount and stands at $103.1m after two sessions.

Warner Bros’ American Sniper crossed $300m in its eighth session, ranking fourth on $306.5m.

The news for stablemate Jupiter Ascending is not so good as the sci-fi fell two to number four and has amassed $33.9m after two. The film, with a reported price-tag of more than $175m before P&A, is a bona fide flop Stateside.

StudioCanal’s family smash Paddington ranks sixth on $63.9m via TWC and has taken more than $200m worldwide.

Radius-TWC opened The Last 5 Years on $51,475 from three venues.

This week’s wide releases are: Buena Vista’s sports drama McFarland, USA starring Kevin Costner and Maria Bello and directed by Niki Caro; Paramount’s comedy Hot Tub Time Machine 2 with Adam Scott, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke; Lionsgate’s comedy The DUFF produced by McG.

Confirmed top 10 North America Feb 13-15 (13-16) 2015
Film (Dist) / Est wkd gross / Est total to date

1 (-) Fifty Shades Of Grey (Universal-Focus) UPI $85.2m ($93m)

2 (-) Kingsman: The Secret Service (Fox) Fox International $36.2m ($41.8m)

3 (1) The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (Paramount) PPI $31.5m $94.6m ($40m, $103.1m)

4 (2) American Sniper (Warner Bros) WBPI $16.4m $304.1m ($18.m, $306.5m)

5 (3) Jupiter Ascending (Warner Bros) WBPI $9.3m $32.4m ($10.8m, $33.9m)

6 (4) Seventh Son (Legendary-Universal) UPI $4.2m $13.4m (ranks seventh over four days: $4.8m, $14.1m)

7 (6) Paddington (TWC-Dimension) StudioCanal $4m $62.2m (ranks sixth over four days: $5.8m, $63.9m)

8 (8) The Imitation Game (TWC) FilmNation $3.5m $79.6m ($4.2m, $80.3m)

9 (7) The Wedding Ringer (Screen Gems) SPRI $3.2m $59.6m ($3.7m, $60.1m)

10 (5) Project Almanac (Paramount) PPI $2.8m $19.6m ($3.3m, $20.1m)

 

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