Fifty Shades Of Grey on course to beat Mamma Mia! 'after $237.7 million opening weekend'
IT WAS one of the most anticipated film releases of the year, which saw millions pre-book tickets to make sure they bagged a seat during the opening weekend.
And it now looks like Fifty Shades Of Grey, starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, could surpass takings amassed by both Mamma Mia! and Basic Instinct, the Guardian has reported today.
The raunchy, 18-rated flick, based on the books by EL James, is said to be "en route to $237.7 million worldwide", the newspaper stated.
Fifty Shades is said to have already beaten the previous record for the highest global debut for an R-rated film, overtaking 2003's The Matrix Revolutions ($117 million).
The flick also saw the best ever opening for Universal in 30 countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine.
Fifty Shades Of Grey - Full Trailer
The news comes after a representative for Fifty Shades director Sam Taylor-Johnson told the Daily Express Online that the movie studios hadn't reached a decision about a follow-up.
The spokesperson said: "The studio have not committed to a sequel as yet."
The 47-year-old was previously rumoured not to be directing any other movies in the four-book series.
Her representative was quick to discount reports yesterday that Sam had backed out of the movie because she'd clashed with the author.
She said: "All press reports are pure conjecture as the studio have not committed to a sequel as yet. We will not be making any further comment."
It's unknown if Universal has the rights to the next two books in the trilogy: Fifty Shades Freed and Fifty Shades Darker.
Taking 58 per cent of the total market, Fifty Shades was also the largest February and Valentine's Day debut.
