“Fifty Shades Of Grey” has the competition tied up in knots, and is the number one movie in North America again this weekend.
The R-rated erotic romp was on track to sell $23.2 million in tickets this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $130.1 million.
“The film is an unqualified success and a profit making machine, having whipped up $410.6 million in worldwide revenue to date,” said movie analyst Paul Dergaradebian at Rentrak.
“Kingsmen: The Secret Service” was in second place with a $17.5 million weekend, and $67.1 million gross. It now has $67.1 million in the bank.
“Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out of Water” was again third, with a $15.5 million weekend. That movie has soaked up $125.2 million in sales, much of that discount tickets for kids.
Two new movies opened in the top five: “McFarland, USA” with $11.3 million and “The Duff” with $11 million.
Rounding out the top 10 movies this weekend, in terms of ticket sales in the United States and Canada, and as reported by the studios and gathered by Rentrak, were “American Sniper” ($9.7 million), “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” (opening with $5.8 million), “Jupiter Ascending” ($3.7 million), “The Imitation Game” ($2.6 million) and “Paddington” ($2.3 million).
