EXCLUSIVE: Advance international ticket sales on Fifty Shades Of Grey, set to open day-and-date worldwide via Universal on February 11, have sky-rocketed to 2.75 million across 39 markets.

Sam Taylor-Johnson’s EL James erotic drama adaptation starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan will receive its international premiere at the Berlinale on February 11, the day Universal and Focus Features releases it in North America.

Germany is the leading market with more than 450,000 tickets sold. Cinestar MD Oliver Fock said the film had generated the biggest pre-sale in the company’s history, calling it “sensational and unprecedented.”

Fifty Shades Of Grey has pre-sold more than 500,000 tickets in the UK, France, Australia and New Zealand, with the UK’s Empire Cinemas reporting record advance business.

“Across the circuit Fifty Shades Of Grey continues to break Empire’s records for the highest advances ever this far out from release,” said Empire Cinemas CEO Justin Ribbons.

“To date the film has higher advances than the opening weekends of The Dark Knight, Avengers, Mamma Mia and Avatar.”

Last week US service Fandango said the film was tracking to become the fastest selling R-rated film in its history.

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