NORTH AMERICA: 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Leads Monday with $1.85M; 'Kingsman' Claims Second Place with $1.44M

By Daniel Garris

Universal's Fifty Shades of Grey led the daily box office on Monday with $1.85 million. The successful erotic romantic drama was down 65 percent from Sunday and down 76 percent from last Monday. While it continues to be heavily front-loaded, Fifty Shades of Grey has grossed an impressive $131.01 million in eleven days. That places the film 49 percent ahead of the $87.87 million eleven-day take of 2010's Valentine's Day.

Fox's Kingsman: The Secret Service claimed second place with $1.44 million. The Matthew Vaughn directed graphic novel adaptation fell 72 percent from Sunday and 74 percent from last Monday. Kingsman continues to exceed expectations with $69.37 million in eleven days and is set to surpass the $70 million mark today. The film is running 55 percent ahead of the $44.64 million eleven-day take of 2010's Red.

Warner's American Sniper placed in third with $0.836 million. The blockbuster Clint Eastwood directed film starring Bradley Cooper was down 69 percent from Sunday and down 65 percent from last Monday. American Sniper has grossed a massive $320.85 million after 39 days of wide release, as it continues to move towards becoming the highest grossing release of 2014.

McFarland, USA finished in fourth with $0.719 million. Disney's well received sports drama starring Kevin Costner fell 75 percent from Sunday. The four-day total for McFarland, USA stands at $11.74 million. That is on the high end of pre-release expectations and places the film 10 percent ahead of the $10.66 million four-day start of last year's Draft Day.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water rounded out Monday's top five with $0.717 million. The successful 3D animated film from Paramount was down 87 percent from Sunday and down a very sharp 92 percent from last Monday's Presidents' Day inflated performance. The 18-day total for The SpongeBob Movie stands at a stronger than expected $126.96 million.

Fellow Paramount release Hot Tub Time Machine 2 followed in sixth place with $0.501 million. The low-budget R-rated comedy sequel fell 66 percent from Sunday. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 has grossed a very disappointing $6.46 million in four days, which places the film 58.5 percent behind the $15.57 million four-day start of 2010's Hot Tub Time Machine.

The DUFF took seventh place with $0.485 million. The low-budget PG-13 rated comedy from CBS Film and Lionsgate was down a sharp 79 percent from Sunday, which is a sign of how heavily the film is skewing towards teens. The DUFF continues to exceed expectations with $11.29 million in four days and is running 21 percent ahead of the $9.35 million four-day take of last year's That Awkward Moment.