The final film in the erotic trilogy is out next month, and early box office forecasts point to big success.
While Freed will still, as expected, likely rake in less than its predecessors Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker, it will still finish at No1 in the US by a clear distance.
According to Variety, analysts expect it to make somewhere in the region of $37 million between February 9-11.
Its diminishing returns compared to 2017’s Darker ($46.6 million) will also be much tamer compared to the dip that film had after 2015’s Grey ($85.2 million).
Also out that weekend Stateside will be Peter Rabbit, expected to finish far behind with $18 million.
Clint Eastwood’s 15:17 To Paris will be further back still with around $10 million, projections suggest.
That being said, Fifty Shades Freed is unlikely to fare significantly better with critics compared to its predecessors.
Both Grey and Darker were lambasted upon release, and – with Freed filmed back-to-back with Darker, and with the same director in charge – it will be a remarkable turnaround if its popularity amongst reviewers increases.
Still, it seems bosses can count on a sizeable audience regardless, with the central performances from Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, plus the popularity of EL James’ source material, enough to bring in the crowds.
Johnson spoke out in a new interview published this week, talking about how playing Ana Steele in the steamy films has affected her.
Dornan, meanwhile, will sing on the film’s highly-anticipated soundtrack album.
Fifty Shades Freed is out on February 9.