Trash–American style–sells big in Europe.
Nor do critics have any impact on such fare, stateside or internationally.
Quite shockingly, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” has passed the $500 million mark at the global box office, Universal announced.
The movie has been dismissed by most critics–for all kinds of reasons.
The erotic drama about a mysterious billionaire (Jamie Dornan) who introduces a college student (Dakota Johnson) to the world of bondage, riding crops, belts and the occasional pregnant stare, has been an even bigger success overseas than in the United States.
More Popular Abroad
More than $350 million of its box office total comes from foreign markets, and while the film opened to record-breaking numbers domestically, it faded extremely fast in the U.S.
The worldwide results represent an impressive return on the $40 million that Universal spent to bring E.L. James’ novel to the big screen.
Given the success, it’s surprising that the studio has yet to announce when it will release a sequel — although reports of tensions and conflicts between James and the film’s director Sam Taylor-Johnson could be part of the reason.
Internationally, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is Universal’s highest grossing R-rated film ever. The film has premiered in all of the territories where it will screen save for Egypt, where it opens on March 11.