Analysts grossly underestimated the allure of "Fifty Shades of Grey" at the box office.
The adaptation of E.L. James' BDSM novel about a naive virgin and a billionaire playboy took in $81.7 million opening weekend.
Analysts expected the movie to open north of $60 million. The movie cost an estimated $40 million to make.
That's the second-largest opening weekend ever in February.
The only movie that made more was 2004's "Passion of the Christ," which debuted to $83.8 million.
That number also makes "Fifty Shades" the fifth-largest opening weekend for an R-rated movie behind "The Matrix Reloaded,""American Sniper,""The Hangover Part II," and "Passion."
By the end of the four-day weekend, "Fifty Shades"made $94.4 million., easily giving it the largest President's Day weekend at the box office. Currently, 2010's "Valentine's Day" holds that record with $63.1 million.
This shouldn't come as a surprise.
Not only was the film one of Fandango's top advance ticket sellers of all time, but it was also the ticket service's top February pre-seller and the biggest R-rated ticket-seller for the company.
Overall, the movie has made $266.4 million worldwide so far.
And it wasn't just "Fifty Shades" that had a good weekend.
The other big release this weekend, "Kingsman: The Secret Service" brought in $35 million. Analysts expected the movie to make a smaller haul in the lower $20 millions.
The Fox film starring Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson cost $81 million to produce.
Last weekend's SpongeBob Squarepants movie, "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water," had a strong second week with another $35.6 million. That movie also beat analyst expectations when it opened to $55 million.
SEE ALSO: "Fifty Shades" is nowhere near as sexy as the book
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NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'
