On Sunday, "Saturday Night Live" celebrated 40 years on air with a three-hour live show featuring dozens of former cast members and hosts.

One major highlight was Jerry Seinfeld's question-and-answer session with the audience. The comedian kicked things off with a jab at embattled NBC anchor Brian Williams. Dakota Johnson, Michael Douglas, and James Franco all stood up to ask ridiculous questions, and even Sarah Palin made a cameo. 

Our favorite part of the bit, though, was when Larry David stood up to ask about his brief writing career on SNL (he was on the show's writing staff for the 1984-85 season). "Look how big we hit it after that!" said David, to which Seinfeld responded, "We had like the biggest show of all time!"

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do

With a smashing box office this weekend, "Fifty Shades of Grey" is the talk of the film world.

And Audi is the talk of the luxury automotive world.

While parent Volkswagen has been enduring some struggles, especially in the US market, Audi has steadily established itself as a serious challenger to the "Big Three" top-tier luxury car brands: Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus.

It only makes sense that Audi and Christian Grey are two passionate and aggressive tastes that go great together. In the movie, the kinky billionaire drives Audi's high-performance R8 supercar. It makes sense: Audi is aiming for a younger set of affluent buyers. Mercedes and BMW are for older folks; Audis are for young turks.

Grey isn't the only cinematic billionaire to slip behind the wheel of an Audi. "Iron Man's" Tony Stark is also an Audi man — the cars make numerous appearances in all three films in the franchise.

Interestingly, that Audi is Christian Grey's ride-of-choice is a product-placement plot-point that was established long before Hollywood got its hands on the steamy tale of a BDSM-inflected courtship between a mega-rich gent and his inexperienced ingenue, Anastasia Steele. 

In the original book series, Audis are everywhere. According to various sources, there's the aforementioned R8, but also an A3 sedan that Grey gives to Anastasia (to replace her VW Beetle — I guess you can read into that what you will about where Audi and VW stand in relation to each other), plus some S-Series sedans and an SUV. 

Author E.L. James included Audis in her books for obvious reasons. Rolls-Royces and Bentleys imply lord-of-the-manor luxury, while Mercedes is often associated with aging plutocrats and BMW is ever-so-slightly tainted by being the preferred vehicle of Hollywood talent agents.

Audi's sweet spot is the under-40, hard-charging, techno-finance crowd. The cars especially are widely admired for sleek designs that attract praise from the creative echelons of the upper-crust. Audis are German, but they are sexy German. 

I haven't read the books, nor I have I seen the movie. But when I asked myself, "What does Christian Grey drive?" I had the answer before Google returned a single result.

Audi went through a rough patch a few decades ago, when buyers thought its cars were unsafe. Over the past 20 years, the brand has decisively rehabilitated itself and is now storming a stratum of the market that some might once said was impervious to a new entrant.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" and "Iron Man" have added immeasurably to the brand's aura. 

In fact, you could now say that for characters of the Christian Grey/Tony Stark type, Audi is now the default choice. 

"Audi is a brand that symbolizes performance, technology and modern design," said Loren Angelo, director of marketing for Audi of America, in a statement (via Edmunds.com), when asked about the appearance of the cars in E.L. James' books.

"The natural inclusion of our hottest models in this series illustrates how Audi has become truly synonymous with sophisticated luxury."

Hot sophisticated luxury, Mr. Angelo!

Why couldn't Grey drive a Ferrari, a Porsche, or a Lamborghini? 

Because although those cars are stunning, they also carry with them an adolescent hangover. Somehow, it doesn't seem right to be wearing a bespoke suit, à la Mr. Grey, while tearing around in a bright yellow Lambo Hurácan (Lambo is also owned by Volkswagen, by the way).

I daresay, Audi is dominating the luxury auto world right now.

Watch the commercial that Audi prepared to coincide with the opening of the film: 

SEE ALSO: The Audi RS 7 is $120,000 of pure automotive perfection

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Expert reveals how 'Fifty Shades of Grey' could change your sex life

She may be 93, but Betty White can still steal a show. She did just that on Sunday evening during "Saturday Night Live's" 40th anniversary special.

White was one of several guests who appeared in a sketch called "The Californians," a fake soap opera that plays off the stereotypes of Angelenos. The whole thing is worth watching, but the must-see moment was when White locked lips with Bradley Cooper in a passionate embrace that just kept going, and going, and going.

Check out the full clip, below. 

SEE ALSO: Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David stole the show on SNL's 40th anniversary special

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie could become the next Kate Upton

You still haven't watched "Breaking Bad"? Even after the Emmys, the national obsession, and the feverish recommendations of anyone you ask? Oh, so you watched the first two episodes and thought they were cool, but the main character was unlikable, and it seemed like a little too much to get into?

Look. If you need to be convinced that AMC's masterpiece is worth starting and sticking with, then just look at the following graph. It comes from the very useful site Graph TV, which lets you plot the IMDB ratings of any show over time.

Site founder Kevin Wu said "Breaking Bad" had one of the most dramatic graphs he has seen. Not only does it get extremely high ratings, but it keeps going up.

"It seems to just get better within each season and season by season," Wu wrote in an email.

SEE ALSO: You should watch 'Better Call Saul'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 15 Best Quotes From 'Breaking Bad'

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie has already made more than $266 million at the box office.

In 2012, the erotica trilogy by E.L James became a phenomenon dubbed "mommy porn."

Women openly read it without shame on the subway and went nuts fan-casting the full-length movie.

The raunchy books follow naive college student Anastasia Steele and her billionaire boyfriend Christian Grey; however, you probably do not know much about series' creator.

E.L. James is just a pen name.

E.L. James' real name is Erika Leonard.

James grew up in Buckinghamshire.

There she was privately educated and took up English literature and history at the University of Kent.

The author now resides in West London with her family.

She's a mom.

James is a 51-year-old British mother of two teenage sons.

She has said in interviews her sons are "mortified" their mother wrote the explicit novels.

Analysts vastly underestimated how well "Fifty Shades of Grey" would perform at the box office during Presidents Day weekend.

The adaptation of the best-selling erotica fan-fiction series by E.L. James brought in an adjusted $85 million over the three-day weekend (originally that number was $81.7 million). In four days, the $40 million Universal Pictures and Focus Features film made $94.4 million.

Analysts thought it would make just over $60 million.

That was probably in part because of comparisons with "Twilight." "Fifty Shades" started out as fan fiction inspired by the popular teen novels. The first "Twilight" movie debuted to $69 million in 2008, so an opening at about $60 million would have made sense for the first installment of "Fifty Shades." 

Instead the film achieved February's best opening weekend at the box office, knocking 2004's "Passion of the Christ" from the top spot.

Here are a few other records "Fifty Shades" now holds:

• Largest opening weekend for a romantic movie (beating out 2001's "Pearl Harbor," $59 million)
• Largest opening weekend for an erotic thriller (topping 2009's "Obsessed," $28.6 million)
• The biggest R-rated ticket-seller on Fandango

The film also has the fourth-largest opening weekend for an R-rated movie.

In total, the movie has made more than $266 million worldwide. In the UK and Ireland, it made $21.5 million.

Why didn't analysts think "Fifty Shades" would make more?

February is not typically a month in which we see a lot of breakout box-office hits.

"The Lego Movie" started to change that thought process last year when it surprised everyone with a $69 million opening weekend and a second weekend in which it nearly performed just as well.

The biggest thing "Fifty Shades" had going against it was how previous R-rated films and films in the erotica genre have performed at the box-office opening weekend.

Take a look at the biggest opening weekends for R-rated movies. "Fifty Shades" is the only film of its kind to crack the top five.

Here's how the top erotic thriller films had performed opening weekend at theaters:

"Fifty Shades" had the advantage of not only being an R-rated erotica film, but unlike the other films listed above, it had a huge "Twilight"-size fan following. More than 100 million copies of the book "Fifty Shades of Grey" have been sold. 

The combination helped the film break box-office expectations. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades of Grey' phenomenon

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie is terrible.

But the movie does have one redeeming quality: the sex. 

The movie is slightly more complicated than the book (which is terrible), I think, because it makes some attempt to respond to the book's major critique — that the relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele is not actually consensual.

The movie addresses this without overcoming it. The sex in the movie seems pretty clearly consensual, and, with the exception of the last scene, appears to be enjoyable.

The problem, of course, is that the sex scenes are completely at odds with the actual plot of the movie, which depicts the beginnings of an abusive and coercive relationship. The sex scenes are important, though, and not just because they're softcore porn being shown on giant screens all over America. They're strangely progressive.

(I don't mean the bondage, that's awful. Rope and cable ties bought at a hardware store are torture devices, not restraints.)

Within the realm of mainstream Hollywood film this movie is something of a breakthrough.

There's oral sex, performed by a man on a woman. There's even a hint that Anastasia may have had an orgasm that was asynchronous and unrelated to her partner's.

Despite everything else in the film suggesting the opposite, the sex scenes are closer to actual sex between two people who like each other than almost anything I've ever seen in a theater.

They're not even really that good, but they are better than the male-centric sexual cliché that Hollywood usually churns out.

It's really depressing that it takes a story about a man who coerces a college student into being his sex slave to make a mainstream Hollywood movie that includes a woman enjoying sex.

SEE ALSO: Authorship is quickly dying, and artist Richard Prince is in legal trouble again

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 'Fifty Shades of Grey' trailer recreated with Legos is way better than the original

New York (AFP) - Pop diva Lady Gaga announced to the world that she is getting married -- to an actor she met making a video, in which she wore her mother's wedding dress.

The 28-year-old superstar, who has become as known for her extravagant outfits as for her music, revealed the engagement by showing a simple, heart-shaped ring that fiance Taylor Kinney gave her.

"He gave me his heart on Valentine's Day, and I said YES!" Gaga said in a caption to the picture she shared with her 5.5 million followers on Instagram on Monday.

Gaga met Kinney in 2011 when filming the video for "You & I" in the open fields of Nebraska. Despite the romantic title, the video was full of disturbing imagery including simulated torture of Gaga.

In a foreshadowing of the relationship to come, Gaga revealed that she wore her mother's wedding dress for the video. It also showed Gaga -- clad as a mermaid -- having sex with Kinney. 

Kinney popped the question to Gaga, an Italian American whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, over a Valentine's Day dinner at the New York restaurant Joanne Trattoria which is owned by her parents, according to celebrity magazine Us Weekly.

Kinney, 33, has acted in a range of television shows, such as "Chicago Fire," and films. 

He had a recurring role on the television series "The Vampire Diaries" and played a Navy SEAL in "Zero Dark Thirty," Kathryn Bigelow's controversial thriller about the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Gaga started off in the New York underground before her 2008 debut album "The Fame," with its infectious dance sound and her racy persona, became an unexpected global smash hit.

Her success was fueled by the popularity of her song "Poker Face," in which Gaga hints at her bisexuality and boyfriends' struggles to understand it.

Gaga became known for her sexually charged live shows as well as her outrage-inducing attire, including a dress made of raw meat that she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010.

More recently, Gaga has sought to show herself as more than a sensational persona. She has teamed up with 88-year-old Tony Bennett for an album of jazz standards, "Cheek to Cheek," accompanied by a tour with little of her past on-stage theatrics.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do

By now, you've probably heard about "Fifty Shades of Grey." 

The film adaptation of the best-selling book series is dominating (sorry for the pun) at theaters. "Fifty Shades" had the highest-grossing Presidents Day weekend ever, making $94 million.

While you may know the basic premise — it's about a virginal college student who falls for a billionaire with a knack for bondage and domination — you may not have read the books nor plan on seeing the movie. 

But we bet you still want to know what it's about. 

We have you covered. 

What is 'Fifty Shades of Grey' about?

E.L. James' erotica novel is written from the perspective of college student Anastasia Steele. Before graduation, she interviews the mysterious and eligible billionaire bachelor Christian Grey for her school's paper. She's not studying journalism. Instead, Anastasia, who goes by Ana, is just conveniently filling in for her sick roommate who was supposed to do the interview.

From the moment the two meet, Ana is pretty smitten with Christian. He makes her flush with nervousness as she fidgets with her tape recorder. She stutters as she speaks, and his calm but stern temperament makes her heartbeat start to race.

Naturally, Christian is actually pretty into Ana, too. It's not really clear why. She's a plain Jane, has no plans for her future after college, and she's clumsy. But for some reason he can't control himself any moment she bites down on her lip. Before you know it, Christian's showing up at Ana's place of employment, sending her expensive presents (first-edition copies of books by her favorite author and a new MacBook), getting jealous of other men in her life, and taking her for helicopter rides. 

Romantic, right?

Well, here's the twist.

It turns out there's a reason Christian is single. He's really into BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism) relationships, and he wants Ana to play the submissive to his dominant.

If you've ever seen 2001's "Secretary" with Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, it's sort of a similar setup. 

Christian has a giant non-disclosure agreement whipped up detailing the specifics of their relationship. It contains safe words and limits, and it details the different sexual acts in which the two will participate.

The entire first book and movie follow Ana's decision whether to sign the lengthy contract.

Oh, yeah. There's more than one book.

If you thought you'd be free after this film, you're wrong! There are two more books in the series called "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed."

You can bet more movies will be on the way. The first film has already made more than $266 million worldwide.

It's based on 'Twilight' 

You can thank "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer for inspiring "Fifty Shades." The BDSM trilogy started out as "Twilight" fan fiction.

James began writing her series on Fanfiction.net. Early drafts of "Fifty Shades" were referred to as "Masters of the Universe" and were written from the perspective of Bella and Edward from "Twilight."

Steele is Bella, right down to the clumsiness and awkward comments. And just like Bella, she is drawn to a dark man and embarks on a violent relationship. Grey is supposed to be Edward without the immortality, fangs, and sparkly skin. The two later transformed into Ana and Christian.

I don't get it. Why do women love this? It sounds awful.

Oh, the writing's not that great. 

What I've gathered from reading the trilogy when it came out is that "Fifty Shades" is about playing out the fantasies and conversations written on the page in your head. 

That's what women had to do before they knew who were cast as the leads for the film.

In many ways, the film actually takes away from that experience, because there are many more explicit sexual acts in the book than in the film. 

What are some of these conversations and fantasies you're talking about?

Most of the first book's 500-plus pages consist of text messages and email messages that occur between Ana and Christian. While many are flirty with silly email subjects, some are similar to dirty texts sent between teens or young lovers.

Here is an example of an email exchange between the two. Note that they'll change the subject each time they respond to each other.

From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Chastising ... Me?
Date: May 31 2011 19:22 EST
To: Christian Grey

Dear Sir, 
When have I ever plucked up the nerve to chastise you, Mr. Grey? I think you are mixing me up with someone else ... which is very worrying. I really do have to get ready.

Your Ana

--

From: Christian Grey
Subject: Your Behind
Date: May 31 2011 16:25
To: Anastasia Steele

Dear Miss Steele, 
You do it all the time in print. Can I zip up your dress?

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

--

From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: NC-17
Date: May 31 2011 19:28 EST
To: Christian Grey

I would rather you unzipped it.

--

From: Christian Grey
Subject: Careful what you wish for ...
Date: May 31 2011 16:25
To: Anastasia Steele

SO WOULD I.

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

The two also have discussions about the different things Ana wants to consent to including:

Ankles bound
Elbows bound
Hands bound behind back
Knees bound
Binding to fixed items, furniture, etc.
Suspension
Blindfolds
Gags
Bondage with rope
Bondage with leather cuffs
Bondage with handcuffs/shackles/manacles
Clamps
Whipping
Paddling
Vibrators and other sex toys

The list goes on, but you get the idea.

The emails are probably the best part of the book, and that's a shame, because they get very little play in the movie. 

Keertana Sastry contributed to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: Meet the author behind the "Fifty Shades of Grey" phenomenon

AND: Analysts grossly underestimated the allure of "Fifty Shades" at the box office

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

It is no secret that most photos we see of models and celebrities have been digitally altered.

Whether a photo editor is using Photoshop to smooth out skin, remove a zit, or make an arm look thinner, we rarely get to see the original photos, what the subjects look like before they are made to look flawless.

Now one such "before" picture of Cindy Crawford is making its way around the internet ... and everyone is loving what they're seeing. 

This Un-Retouched Photo Of Cindy Crawford Has Gone Viral http://t.co/WXaOXwOoxWpic.twitter.com/NPIz6crudg

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) February 16, 2015

The New York Post reports: "The leaked photo from a December 2013 cover shoot for Marie Claire Mexico and Latin America shows the now 48-year-old beauty wearing a black cowboy hat, fur coat, and matching black bra and bottoms."

Marie Claire addressed the photo in a statement on its website:

An unretouched photo of Cindy Crawford has been circulating on Twitter this morning, revealing a body that defies expectations — it is real, it is honest, and it is gorgeous.

...

No matter where the photo came from, it's an enlightenment — we've always known Crawford was beautiful, but seeing her like this only makes us love her more.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 14 things you didn't know your iPhone headphones could do

Over the last 40 years, loads of "Saturday Night Live" sketches have made television history.

But even if you know all the famous sketches, we're betting that you haven't heard about all the scandals and affairs that happened behind the scenes.

Failures, drugs, loneliness, and stardom — get the inside scoop with these books.

"Saturday Night Live: The Book" by Alison Castle

Here's a great coffee table book to have around.

This one comes with over 2,300 images from the studio's archives — many of which have never been published before.

And there's also an exclusive interview with the founder and executive producer Lorne Michaels.

Hardcover: $34.35

"Live from New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests" by James Andrew Miller

This book was originally published for SNL's 30th anniversary. But now the authors have returned and added over 100 pages of new material on the fourth decade of the sketch show.

Check out all the stars, the secrets, and the controversies you didn't see on stage.

Hardcover: $21.52
Kindle: $14.99

"Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live" by Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad

Take a tour through the first ten years of SNL. There are scandals, drugs, betrayals, failures, and affairs.

"It reads like a thriller," said the Associated Press, "and may be the best book ever written about television." 

Kindle: $6.29

BONUS: "Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life" by Steve Martin

Technically, this one isn't about SNL — but Steve Martin was a frequent host and guest on SNL (and Lorne Michaels was even hisbest man). 

Martin's autobiography details his early career as a comedian. He writes about the sacrifices he made, the loneliness of stardom, and the focus and discipline required for success.

And there's plenty of great career advice in here — even if you're not planning on becoming a comedian.

Kindle: $6.29

WANT MORE? Click Here To See Our Other Insider Picks

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What Happened When A Bunch Of Young Boys Were Told To Hit A Girl

First Lady Michelle Obama recently traveled to a Washington D.C. supermarket with Big Bird and comedian Billy Eichner where she played a game called, "Which is better Ariana Grande or eating a carrot?"

The odd game was ostensibly an effort to promote a program that was launched by the White House, Sesame Street, and the Produce Marketing Association in 2013 to encourage children to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Healthy eating has been one of Obama's main focuses as first lady.

Eichner released a video showing the game on Funny Or Die on Monday. It features the first lady sharing her thoughts on One Direction and Gene Hackman. She also slow dances with Big Bird. 

At one point, Eichner asks the first lady, "Who's hotter Abraham Lincoln or Barack Obama?" 

"Barack Obama," she answered.

Eichner told her that was incorrect.

Watch the full clip below.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 11 Facts That Show How Different Russia Is From The Rest Of The World

Admirable people can be world leaders, humanitarians, or movie stars. The common thread is that they're often making a difference in the world.

International market research firm YouGov conducted a global poll people in 34 countries to come up with the most admired people in the world.

YouGov gathered open-ended nominations in December, used these to compile a list of 25 men and 25 women, and polled people again to choose who they admire most from the two lists.

The most admired man on the list is Bill Gates, followed by US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Gates, known first for co-founding Microsoft, is better known these days for his philanthropic Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports initiatives in education, world health, and poverty. In 2014, Gates noted breakthroughs in particular on the global health front, especially when it comes to access to vaccinations and health care. He's also changing the way high school history classes are taught with the holistic, multi-disciplined Big History curriculum which enriches student learning of history beyond the typical chronological method.

The most admired woman is Angelina Jolie, followed by Malala Yousafzai, and Hillary Clinton.

In 2014 Jolie began moving away from acting and toward writing and directing, as well as work in the humanitarian field. A UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) special envoy, Jolie was honored in June by Queen Elizabeth II as an honorary dame for her PSVI campaign against sexual violence. A political career may be in her future, as she revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair that she's very "open" to the idea.

See the graphic below for the full list of the world's most admired men and women (click to enlarge):

SEE ALSO: The 24 most impressive people of 2014

THE LATEST LISTS: Follow @BI_Lists on Twitter!

Join the conversation about this story »

"Fifty Shades of Grey" broke box-office records this weekend after raking in over $266 million worldwide.

The film centers around the handsome yet tormented billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and young literature student Anastasia Steele, played by Dakota Johnson.

While "Fifty Shades" is Johnson's breakout role, the 25-year-old is no stranger to Hollywood.

Dakota's father is "Miami Vice" actor Don Johnson.

Her mother is actress Melanie Griffith.

And her maternal grandmother is "The Birds" actress Tippi Hedren.

After Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith split in 1996, Griffith went on to marry Antonio Banderas later that year. 

Dakota has a half-sister, Stella, from her mother's marriage to Antonio Banderas, which ended last year. 

In total, she has six half-siblings, four on her father's side and two on her mother's side.

Dakota remains close to both of her parents.

Dakota grew up in Aspen, Colorado, before attending high school in Santa Monica, California. 

After graduating from high school, she signed with the William Morris Agency and started her acting career.

But she has been accompanying her mom to movie premieres and Hollywood events throughout her life.

The two attended Teen Vogue's young Hollywood party in 2003.

The Carousel of Hope Ball in 2008.

And the "Biutiful" premiere in 2010.

In 2010, Johnson landed her first role in "The Social Network."

From 2011 to 2012, Johnson had a few bit roles in films like "Beastly," "The Five-Year Engagement," and "21 Jump Street."

In 2012, Johnson got the lead role as "Kate" in the Fox TV series "Ben and Kate."

The show lasted one season but led to a string of small movie roles in 2014 before Johnson eventually landed the coveted role of Anastasia Steele in "Fifty Shades of Grey."

The casting immediately made Johnson a star in her own right.

She attended the Met Ball in May.

And later that month made an appearance at the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic with Olivia Munn and Aaron Paul.

In January, she presented at the Golden Globes.

In February, she made the cover of Vogue magazine.

And this weekend appeared at the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special.

Ahead of the "Fifty Shades" February 13 release, Johnson and her costar Jamie Dornan hit the press circuit hard, attending a screening in New York earlier this month.

Appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."

Flying to Berlin for the film's Germany premiere.

And London for the UK premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey," alongside director Sam Taylor-Johnson and author E.L. James.

After the film's succeess opening weekend, "Fifty Shades" is already rumored to have two sequels lined up.

SEE ALSO: Everything you should know about 'Fifty Shades of Grey' if you don't want to read the book

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie could become the next Kate Upton

Before "Fifty Shades of Grey" was a hit movie, and a best-selling series, early drafts of the erotic relationship between billionaire Christian Grey and college graduate Anastasia Steele existed as a series of notes on a Blackberry.

In April 2012, James recalled to both ABC News and Today that she typed out most of the erotic novel on her phone. 

"I used to write a lot of it on my way to work on my Blackberry,” James told ABC’s Elizabeth Vargas. "I used to beam it into my Mac when I'd get home, and then I'd write."

James told the Today show she “didn’t do anything else for two years” while writing the first novel.

Her tenacity paid off. 

Since the release of “Fifty Shades of Grey” in 2011, the book has sold over 100 million copies and has been published in 52 languages.

In 2013, James was called Forbes' top-earning author making an estimated $95 million from June 2012 to June 2013.

The movie has made over $266 million worldwide, and at least two more installments are expected.

SEE ALSO: Everything you should know about "Fifty Shades" if you don't want to read the book

AND: Analysts grossly underestimated the allure of "Fifty Shades" at the box office

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

"Fifty Shades of Grey" — the best-selling erotic romance novel, box-office hit and international phenomenon — began as a fan fiction spin-off on the "Twilight" novels before it was published without an agent through a small, online writers community.

After reading the "Twilight" series, "Fifty Shades" author E.L. James started posting her own erotic take on the novels on Fanfiction.net, an online forum that allows fans to write stories based on the settings and characters in some of their favorite works.

"I just sat on my sofa and just read them and read them and read them," James told ABC back in 2012, referring to the books in the "Twilight" series. "I was inspired by ['Twilight' author] Stephenie Meyer ... she just kind of flipped this switch in my head." Shortly after reading the books, James says she sat down and decided to write a book of her own.

"It was one of tens of thousands, really hundreds of thousands, of stories written by this vast community of women who were inspired to write and share stories by 'Twilight,'" Anne Jamison, author of "Fic: Why Fanfiction is Taking Over the World," told CBC News.

Many readers deemed James' stories too provocative for Fanfiction.net, however, and she was forced to remove some of them from the site. "She took it down and thought, I’d always wanted to write. I’ve got a couple unpublished novels here," James' agent told the LA Times. "I will rewrite this thing, and create these iconic characters, Christian and Ana."

Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, the two protagonists of "Fifty Shades," are basically Edward Cullen and Bella Swan of "Twilight." 

In "Fifty Shades," Christian Grey is a mysterious, jaw-droppingly handsome CEO. In "Twilight," Edward Cullen is a mysterious, jaw-droppingly handsome vampire.

In both stories, the heroine is understated, "pretty" but not "beautiful," and intimidated by the men's wealth and good looks. Both Bella and Ana are clumsy and routinely question what their male counterpart sees in them.

James went on to create her own website — 50shades.com — where she could post more of her writing. Her online serial, originally published under the title "Masters of the Universe," eventually led her to write "Fifty Shades of Grey," which James self-published through a small former writers community called The Writer's Coffee Shop in May 2011, according to Publishers Weekly. One year later, she had sold roughly 30,000 copies in e-book downloads. 

Literary agents soon took notice of the book's rising online popularity. “There was already a buzz about the trilogy in early 2012, appreciation for the books had gone viral,” James’s literary agent Valerie Hoskins told Vanity Fair last week. "All of the Big Six (five now) publishers in New York City were very keen to offer for it.”

In March 2012, James signed a 7-figure contract with Random House’s Vintage Books. The book sold 10 million copies in six weeks. By the end of 2012, sales hit 70 million copies worldwide. 

The series' humble origins are surprising given its record-breaking success. Since its mainstream release in 2012, "Fifty Shades" has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and launched an entire genre known as "mommy porn." It has been translated into 52 different languages and the long-awaited film adaptation, which premiered on Valentines Day, raked in $94 million on its opening weekend— a Presidents' Day record. 

Supporters of fan fiction have mixed feelings about the book's overwhelming success. Some feel that fan fiction is not supposed to be profitable, and that James betrayed the community and its values by signing a book deal with such a major publisher.

"It wasn't the first fan fiction to be published, by any means, but it was the first that was so big and so popular and got so much attention," Jamison told CBC.

Still, others are hopeful that James' success will set a precedent for writers of fan fiction to gain respect among the literary elite. Many publishers now scout potential clients through fan fiction sites.

"There were definitely editors that said they thought [fan] fic was over, which I think is funny in retrospect," Holly Root, a literary agent at Waxman Leavell in New York, told Vanity Fair. "That was 2012, and how many deals have there been since then?" 

SEE ALSO: Meet the 25-year-old at the center of the "Fifty Shades" phenomenon

AND: Everything you should know about "Fifty Shades of Grey" if you don't want to read the book

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

The 87th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, February 22. 

If you're trying to guess who will take home the statues, the list of odds below should help you out.

The list was compiled by John Avello, who's in charge of the sportsbooks at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He compiles an annual Oscar odds list each year, and he has since become the premiere source for predicting the big winners.

Below are the odds for the five major awards categories.

You can view the full list of odds here.

Best Picture
"Boyhood," 2 to 5
"The Imitation Game" - 7 to 1
"The Grand Budapest Hotel" - 9 to 1
"Birdman," - 18 to 1
"Selma" - 20 to 1
"The Theory of Everything" - 30 to 1
"Whiplash" - 60 to 1
"American Sniper" - 75 to 1

Best Actress
Julianne Moore, "Still Alice" - 1 to 9
Reese Witherspoon, "Wild" - 8 to 1
Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl" - 25 to 1
Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything" - 40 to 1
Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night" - 60 to 1

Best Actor
Michael Keaton, "Birdman" - 5 to 6
Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" - 11 to 10
Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game" - 20 to 1
Steve Carrell, "Foxcatcher" - 30 to 1
Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper" - 75 to 1

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood" - 1 to 7
Emma Stone, "Birdman" - 12 to 1
Meryl Streep, "Into The Woods" - 15 to 1
Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game" - 25 to 1
Laura Dern, "Wild" - 28 to 1

Best Supporting Actor
J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash" - 1 to 5
Edward Norton, "Birdman" - 10 to 1
Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood" - 12 to 1
Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher" - 14 to 1
Robert Duvall, "The Judge" - 30 to 1

SEE ALSO: The 9 worst Oscar snubs of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: WWE superstar John Cena shows up in the trailer for Judd Apatow's new movie 'Trainwreck'

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie made $81.7 million on its opening weekend, making it the most successful Presidents Day weekend debut in history and one of the biggest debuts for an R-rated movie. 

Released in 2011, the first book became the fastest-selling novel written for adults of all time, and the three-part trilogy sold more than 100 million copies, putting it in the same class as the "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" series and making its author, E.L. James, over $90 million in one year.

This is quizzical, given that the critical consensus is that both the books and the movie are pretty terrible.

Why have so many people become obsessed with "Fifty Shades" in print and on the screen? 

To untangle that knot, we've gathered possible explanations from a range of reporters, critics, and academics: 

While appearing new and divisive, "Fifty Shades" is an old, beloved story.

If you cut away the light bondage, "Fifty Shades" is the same story as "Beauty and the Beast," which was originally a French fairy tale first published in 1756 before becoming a blockbuster Disney feature. 

So it's kinky, yet familiar. 

"Fifty Shades" fits "the time-honored trope: innocent girl falls for troubled man, endures his anti-social behavior out of belief in his ultimate goodness, and eventually teaches him to be a sociable, polite member of society," writes blogger Joe Bunting. 

That same "tame-the-ruffian" plot has been endlessly re-fashioned, from "Pretty Woman" to "My Fair Lady" to "Taming of the Shrew" to "10 Things I Hate About You." 

New technology made the book accessible — and hideable.

"Fifty Shades" started as an e-book sensation, which may have helped give it an initial lift. 

"People who like to trace all new trends back to new technology have offered this explanation — that women who wouldn't be seen dead reading smut on the tube could read it on their Kindle, and this launched a whole world of sales," argues Guardian columnist Zoe Williams. 

It did. While e-books usually account for 20% of Random House's sales, 50% of "Fifty Shades" sales were digital.

Anti-fans couldn't stop talking about it. 

People love to hate "Fifty Shades," argue British feminist lit scholars Sarah Harman and Bethan Jones in a 2013 article for the journal Sexualities, and that's a big reason that the series has swelled in popularity. 

"We suggest that 'Fifty Shades' has ... generated an ironic, even guilty, fandom in which readers and viewers bemoan the series' flaws, while enjoying (sometimes furtively) the texts," they write. 

In this way, "hate reading" the books is a way of deeply engaging with them, as well as telling everybody about your taste. While the haters might dismiss the books as "bad literature," "popular," and "drivel," they're still talking about the books with their friends — making everybody more curious about what's inside. 

It worked for the movie, too. MSNBC editor Adam Howard has said that "Fifty Shades" is a zeitgeist-capturing conversation-driver like another big 2015 release — "American Sniper."

"These are films that become events because of the 'controversy' they generate as well as their box office numbers (which becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy)," Howard writes. "They drive audiences into pro- or con- camps that often have little do with a film's merits and much more to do with what they represent for their fans or detractors."

The movie was incredibly well-timed.

Universal was originally going to release the "Fifty Shades" movie in October 2014, but saved it for the Valentine's Day and Presidents Day combo weekend, usually a time reserved for family-friendly romantic comedies. 

"Fifty Shades" is anything but family friendly. 

"The gamble paid off," BoxOffice.com analyst Phil Contrino tells Variety. "It flies in the face of what you'd expect to be released on that day. It's usually safe and non-offensive dramas and comedies."

The sex is good.

Most sex scenes in books are terrible, says Williams, the Guardian columnist. That's why the Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award exists — for authors that describe sex with awkward metaphors and excruciatingly awkward sex scenes, which are often disconnected from the plot.

Then there's "Fifty Shades."

"James' sex scenes are not incidental; they are the meat of the plot, the crux of the conflict, the key to at least one of and possibly both the central characters," she says. "It is a sex book."

In this way, "Fifty Shades" captures something that serious fiction misses: sexuality. As New York Times critic A. O. Scott says, the novel "trashily" and "triumphantly" succeeded in being something that there's a proven market for: pornography. 

The film — in fitting snugly within the R-rating — is much less explicit than the book, but surprisingly relatable.

"The sex scenes are closer to actual sex between two people who like each other than almost anything I've ever seen in a theater," wrote Business Insider's Shane Ferro. "They're not even really that good, but they are better than the male-centric sexual cliché that Hollywood usually churns out."

SEE ALSO: Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' phenomenon

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

25-year-old Dakota Johnson has stepped into the Hollywood A-list with her star role in the smash hit "Fifty Shades of Grey." 

But this is not the first time we've seen Johnson on screen. The actress, who comes from a long line of Hollywood royalty, famously played a young Stanford student and Sean Parker's one-night-stand in "The Social Network."

In the movie, she's the one who tells Parker about Facebook blowing up on college campuses. This inspires Parker to track down Mark Zuckerberg.

Watch the clip below. 

SEE ALSO: MEET DAKOTA JOHNSON, the 25-year-old Hollywood royalty at the center of the 'Fifty Shades' phenomenon

MORE: How to save big money on your internet bill

Join the conversation about this story »

The New York State Republican Party decided to jump into the discussion surrounding the hit erotic romance movie "Fifty Shades of Grey."

On Tuesday, the state GOP tweeted a fake movie poster for "Fifty Shades of Bill" that appears to have New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) as the film's female protagonist and the Rev. Al Sharpton as her lover: 

The satire also included quips about the film's famous bondage scenes. On their mock poster, the state Republicans jokingly promised their de Blasio flick would feature the mayor "TIED UP by his habitual tardiness, "DOMINATED by the duties of his office," and "HANDCUFFED by his poor management of the NYPD." 

De Blasio's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the poster from Business Insider.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'