Fifty Shades of Grey's massive NZ debut

Fifty Shades of Grey stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.

The film adaptation of EL James' Fifty Shades of Grey has hauled in $1.407 million on its first weekend at New Zealand's box offices, according to Paramount Pictures.

The takings equate to New Zealand's biggest ever opening for an R-rated film, edging out previous record holders

The Hangover II

and

Hannibal

.

Across the ditch, website

The Hollywood Reporter

claimed the film took $8.6m in Australia - the country's biggest non-holiday opening.

In the UK and Ireland the film took $21.5m.

Fifty Shades of Grey opened to a US$81.7 million in the US domestic market, and took an additional US$158 million in 58 international markets.

The film secured the biggest opening of all time in 11 countries including Argentina, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and the Ukraine.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Fifty Shades trilogy of erotic novels has been translated into 52 languages and sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

- nzherald.co.nz