22 things you don't know about "Fifty Shades of Grey"
It's a bestselling book. Now it's a very hot movie. But the "Fifty Shades of Grey" phenomenon goes way, way, beyond that. For starters, the original novel has been translated into more than 50 languages.
You'll Never See the Porn Version ... Ever
A studio called Smash Pictures tried to produce a porn version of the Fifty Shades film (Fifty Shades of Grey: A XXX Adaptation). But Universal, which distributes Fifty Shades, was having none of it. Uni took Smash to court and the two parties eventually settled, with Smash agreeing to halt production on A XXX Adaptation.
Some Say It's Downright Dangerous
The film has come under attack, and not just by the usual suspects, such as the American Family Association.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has condemned the film. In a statement, the group said, "Hollywood is advertising the Fifty Shades story as an erotic love affair, but it is really about sexual abuse and violence against women. The porn industry has poised men and women to receive the message that sexual violence is enjoyable. Fifty Shades models this porn message and Hollywood cashes the check."
It's Inspired a Forensic Sketch
Before film casting was announced, Dr. Faye Skelton, a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire School of Psychology, created a composite sketch of what fans thought Christian Grey looks like.
There Are Troubling Links
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Women's Health found that young women who had read the novel were more likely to have tried binge drinking.
J.K. Rowling Is Over It
When asked if she'd read the book, the Harry Potter creator said no. When asked if she felt she was missing out on a phenomenon, she told The Guardian, "Not wildly."
It could've been more psychotic
Bret Easton Ellis, writer of the bloody serial-killer novel American Psycho, made it well known that he wanted to write the film adaptation of Fifty Shades. But the producers went with Kelly Marcel, writer of"Saving Mr. Banks," instead.
Fans have been blindfolded
The book has been banned in libraries in at least three states -- Wisconsin, Georgia and Florida -- as well as parts of Brazil. Several countries, including Kenya, have nixed the big-screen version.
Its fame has biblical proportions
The book has grown so popular that the Damson Dene Hotel, on Britain's Lake Windermere, replaced the Bibles in its rooms with copies of "Fifty Shades."
The parody books keep coming
Ever hear of "Fifty Shames of Earl Grey?" What about "Fifty Shades of Beige," or the Jewish version, "Fifty Shades of Oy Vey?" They're out there, along with a cookbook: "Fifty Shades of Chicken."
It's made rope sales burn up
New York hardware stores reportedly saw a jump in rope sales following the rise of the book -- particularly the soft "clothes line" kind.
It's inspired fifty shades of play
Live performance parodies of the book have sprung up as well, including "Spank! the Fifty Shades Parody."
It's gintastic
The Heathman Hotel, a featured location in the novel, has begun offering a "50 Shades"-inspired cocktail, 50 Shades of Gin. It's $12, and the hotel has sold more than $20,000 worth of that cocktail.
Charlie tango has earned bravos
The Heathman also has created a $2,700 "Charlie Tango" package stay based on the novel. It includes (among other benefits) a helicopter tour of the city, roses for the women in the party, dinner at the hotel and limo transfers to the helipad; six have already sold.
Other hotels have tie-ins, too
Hotels around the country have created package stays based on the book. At the Eventi in New York, guests get two tickets to the local Museum of Sex; a couples massage; and toys including "Satin Bondage Kit, Paddle, Spanking Powder & Necktie."
It wasn't always 50 shades
Before it was a novel, the story was a piece of "Twilight"-inspired fiction that took a fan website by storm. Author EL James went by the moniker Snowqueen Icedragon. The original tale's title: "Master of the Universe."
Fans helped edit it
In the book's early online days, James thanked fans for "pre-reading" and for help "checking my American."
It's outstripped Harry Potter... sort of
Amazon U.K. has said that it's sold more copies of "Fifty Shades of Grey" than it had the entire "Harry Potter" series combined. Worldwide, Potter still beats "Fifty Shades."
Author has a VERY good Imagination
Author EL James had never been to Seattle or Portland, where "Fifty Shades" is set, when she wrote the novels. She used Google Street View to research locations.
Academics are studying it
Colleges such as American University have offered entire courses on "Fifty Shades." Others have folded the book into curricula for courses on literature.
It's bigger than Katniss
Fifty Shades took the No. 1 spot on USA Today's best-selling books list for 20 weeks in a row, breaking a previous record of 16 weeks by "The Hunger Games" novel.