Fans across Australia have flocked to cinemas in record-breaking numbers for the opening day of Fifty Shades of Grey with the film grossing over $2,506,663 at the box office yesterday.
This surpasses the debuts of both Sex and the City films, the first editions of Twilight and The Hunger Games and the biggest Bond film of all time, Skyfall.
It's also the biggest February opening day of all time and the biggest first day for an MA rated film in Australia, surpassing The Hangover 2.
There was no stopping eager fans who lined up at cinemas across the country for their chance to finally meet Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele on the big screen with hundreds taking to social media afterwards to express their satisfaction:
“Pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Seeing it again ASAP”
“I was impressed with how incredibly tasteful the sex scenes were. They were not over done or tacky.”
“Just wow. I’m speechless. I smiled throughout the whole movie. It was amazing.”
Fan anticipation hit fever pitch in the lead up to the film’s February 12 release with premium cinema offerings selling out weeks in advance. Last night saw the largest and fastest-selling Chicks at the Flicks event take place with over 20,000 women attending the events at Event, BCC, Greater Union and Village Cinemas nationwide.
The opening day represents an extraordinary 74% market share of the Top 10 films at the Australian box office and Universal Pictures’ widest ever release in Australia with the film playing at 277 locations and 523 screens nationwide.