10 Awful Movies That Embarrassingly Made A Fortune
9. Fifty Shades Of Grey
Worldwide Box Office Gross: $571 million
Ok, hating on Fifty Shades of Grey became old before the film was even released, but that doesn't mean we can't at least acknowledge that it sucks (and not in the good way, despite what its kinky narrative would like you to believe). The film once again demonstrates the power of basing a film on something that already has a strong fan base. And to prove how strong that fan base is, Asda infamously had your nan reading the novel in a Christmas advert.
Despite the source material taking the western world by storm, E. L. James' novel of which the film is based has rightly been blasted for its low quality of writing; honestly you might just want to read it for a laugh because there are countless so-bad they're good moments, a personal favourite being: 'I feel the colour in my cheeks rising again. I must be the colour of The Communist Manifesto'. (Because what's more sexy than references to an outdated economic ideology?)
The film isn't much better. It's still arguably as sexist, there's a lack of conflict and stakes, and Jamie Dornan has about as much charisma as a fridge. Unsurprisingly, there will be a sequel released in 2017, titled Fifty Shades Darker, which will hopefully either be surprisingly brilliant, or a deserving box office bomb (neither of which seems likely).
Regardless, if you really want to see a film concerning BDSM that is sexy, expertly-made, well-acted and actually feels like it has something to say about our sexualities and our society, watch Steven Shainberg's Secretary, which infuriatingly didn't even break $10 million at the box office despite being made long before Fifty Shades of Grey was even a thing. Ah, those were the days.