‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Expected to Whip Up $75-85 Million Over 4-Day Opening Weekend

Jamie Dornan-Dakota Johnson BDSM drama is poised to make between $26 million and $30 million on Friday

Universal’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” is poised to make $26 million to $30 million Friday and is on track for a $75 million to $85 million four-day opening, according to new industry estimates.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson star in “Fifty Shades,” which Universal Pictures and Focus Features rolled out with early screenings in 2,830 theaters starting at 8 p.m. Thursday. Over the weekend, it is expected to break records in 3,646 theaters in North America over the Presidents Day weekend, which includes Valentine’s Day Saturday and the holiday on Monday.

The Thursday-night haul was Universal’s highest-grossing late-night show ever, besting the $6.5 million of “Fast & Furious” in 2013. And it is the second highest-grossing R-rated late-night showing behind the $10.4 million of “The Hangover 2,” which was released on Memorial Day weekend in 2011. That one finished the weekend with $85.9 million.

The film is also already open in 34 international territories and is No. 1 at the box office in 33 of them. Outside North America, it has already made $28.6 million from Wednesday and Thursday.

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