Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (2023)

The Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy caused a stir in Hollywood and audiences alike when it launched in 2015. It's the first romantic-erotic drama to achieve such mainstream popularity, for better or for worse.The original film was an adaptation of a popular book by E.L. Jameswhich was completed as a trilogy with the sequel adaptations Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

TIED TOGETHER:

Some fans found the trilogy over-the-top when it came to realistically depicting a BDSM relationship, while others felt that the seedy dialogue and plot only made the story worse. Regardless, the trilogy became a phenomenon that audiences couldn't help but watch. It even led to an increase in book sales! But how different is the story about cold CEO Christian Gray (Jamie Dornan), Anastasia Steel (Dakota Johnson) and supporting character compared to the film trilogy?

Leila really shoots Anna

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (1)

Infifty shades darker, Anna deals with two obsessive stalkers, one of whom is Leila (Bella Heathcote), the subservient from Christian's past. According to the film, Leila became attached to Christian and wanted more, but after he left, she found love and was fine. Until her husband dies in a fatal accident. She then tries to get back to Christian but is desperate to see him with Ana.

This leads to Leila harassing Ana, and at one point she breaks into her apartment with a gun. In the film, Christian manages to defuse the situation and even gets her to submit almost immediately. There is more drama in the book as Leila shoots at Ana instead of aiming elsewhere.

The infamous period sex scene was edited out

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (2)

One of the most notable exclusions from the transition from the first book to the film was the infamous intercourse period. It is understandable that in a screen adaptation it is best to omit certain intimate elements. This was certainly a scene that would not and would not have translated wellshocked the public in the wrong way.

(Video) Book Vs Movie: Fifty Shades Trilogy

In the book, Christian is open to trying just about anything when it comes to sex or pleasure. Ana's annoying time of the month doesn't put him off at all. Instead, he's cool as a cucumber and even removes Ana's tampon. It was certainly shocking, but somehow it turned Ana on. Though some fans missed it, most weren't surprised that this raunchy scene was cut.

There are fewer sex scenes

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (3)

There's not enough time span used for all three films to rant about how much sex Ana and Christian have in the books. The books are littered with sexual adventures in all forms in different places.

One big difference is that in Fifty Shades Darker, the audience got a more "vanilla" idea of ​​how adept the two are in the bedroom. While the spreader, certain spherical pleasure tools and Ana's drawing of Christian with lipstick are all taken from the book, more perverse cases have been excluded. But in the third book, many sexually charged scenes were cut. For example, the couple who shaved or had sex to be part of the "Mile High Club" were nowhere to be seen in the film "Fifty Shades Freed."

Ana has no inner goddess

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (4)

One aspect of Ana's character that fans somewhat agreed with was her "inner goddess". From the moment readers meet Ana, she has an inner goddess that acts as the voice in her head. But that voice isn't exactly normal by most standards. The voice is more eccentric and raunchy than Ana usually is, and she definitely has an appetite for Christian.

TIED TOGETHER:

(Video) Fifty Shades of Grey: Movie vs. Book Review

It's almost like the goddess inside is another person who can seem a bit creepy. Ana's thought process with her inner goddess includes lines like, "My inner goddess looks like someone snatched ice cream from her" or "My inner goddess spins like a world-class ballerina, pirouette after pirouette."

Jack Hyde is a persistent stalker

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (5)

Fans can agree that the films cut many plot aspects to try to fit as much as possible into about six hours of screen time. This caused certain characters to not develop properly, most notably in Fifty Shades Darker. the second moviedeal with a lot of stalking and obsessionby strangers including Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson), Ana's boss.

In the sequel, he is fired early from the publisher for making crude sexual advances towards Ana. In the book, he is fired much later for developing a creepier, more obsessive character in the workplace. Since Jack is fired early in the film, he becomes more of a persistent stalker than a gradual one. His stalking activities include sneaking into the de Gray family home to snoop around and even watch from afar.

Elliot Proposes to Kate at a Club (For Some Reason)

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (6)

Alongside Christian and Anna's relationship, viewers will see a romance unfold between Kate (Eloise Mumford) and Christian's brother Elliot (Luke Grimes). From Fifty Shades Freed, they're in love and getting really serious. One aspect that differed from book to film regarding this relationship was how Elliot posed the question.

In the book, Elliot does thatsincere romantic plan to proposeKate in a fancy restaurant. For the film, the location was changed to a noisy nightclub, and the change left fans perplexed. It's not exactly romantic, but they're surrounded by loved ones, so it makes up for it.

(Video) Fifty Shades of Physical and Emotional Abuse, a book review by The Dom

there is no dr Flynn

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (7)

For logistical reasons, the films remove certain characters from the books. One of them was Ethan, a romantic interest of Christian's sister. The other was dr. Flynn, who played an important role as Christian's therapist, helping him deal with emotions.their BDSM relationshipsand childhood trauma.

In the film trilogy, Dr. Just not Flynn. As a result, audiences don't get to see Christian's more vulnerable side and how someone as controlling as he is would function in such an environment. Worse, humanizing scenes like Dr. Flynn approving of Ana are missing.

Leila isn't the only submissive ex

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (8)

Fifty Shades Freed only referred to one of Christian's previous submissives, namely Leila. She becomes the focus, but she's not the only submissive in the book. The book introduces another submissive in Susi. It was removed due to time constraints and other plot elements that had to occur.

TIED TOGETHER:

The book features Susi in a scene where she and Leila visit Ana at work. This scene is never in the film and would have added even deeper drama. When that happens, Christian goes a little crazy and scolds Ana's bodyguard.

(Video) 10 Books that are Better Than 50 Shades of Grey

Kate never finds out about the contract.

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (9)

Luckily, while Kate is good friends with Ana, she doesn't know anything about the true relationship between her and Christian. This means that she is also unaware of the contract. But that's not the case in the second book. Kate finds the email exchange about itthe contract between cristian and anaon Ana's computer and then questions Ana.

In the film, Kate has no idea. She remains completely in the dark about their BDSM relationship, instead seeing Christian as somewhat possessive of the woman he loves.

Mrs. Jones and Taylor never happen

Fifty Shades of Grey: 10 Differences Between the Book and Movie Trilogy (10)

There are a couple of budding romances in the books that never made it to the screen, one between Christian's housekeeper, Mrs. Jones (Fay Masterson) and his trusted bodyguard, Taylor (Max Martini). The audience only sees Ms. Jones a few times, while Taylor only stays by Christian's side.

In the books, these two end up having a hot but sweet romance. Once Ana even catches them kissing secretly. Unfortunately, this relationship never blossoms as it is not crucial to the main story.

NEXT:10 lessons fans can learn from popular rom-coms

(Video) Fifty Shades of Gray Pitch Meeting

FAQs

How is 50 Shades of Grey movie different from the book? ›

Some small differences include less domineering and possessive behavior from Christian (yes, that's actually possible), the absence of email and text exchanges (which were frequent in the first film, Fifty Shades of Grey), and fewer sex scenes — they have to keep the movie under six hours somehow!

How much time passed between 50 Shades of Grey and 50 Shades Darker? ›

Fifty Shades Darker, the second film in the epic Fifty Shades trilogy, takes place a few weeks after the events of the last film, where Anastasia decided to leave Christian when she realized he gets off on hurting her. Now that she's a college graduate, she has a job as an assistant at a publishing house.

What is the difference between 50 shades of Grey and 50 shades of Grey unrated? ›

The biggest change of all comes at the two-hour mark. In the original movie, the film ends with Ana getting on an elevator and leaving Christian behind. The unrated version, however, features an alternate ending that shows Ana mostly just crying a lot. And that's it — until Fifty Shades Darker that is.

Is Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker the same movie? ›

Sam Taylor-Johnson directed the first film, and James Foley directed the second and third films. The first film, Fifty Shades of Grey, was released on February 13, 2015, while the second, Fifty Shades Darker, was released on February 10, 2017. Fifty Shades Freed, the third film, was released on February 9, 2018.

What are the different parts of Fifty Shades of Grey? ›

Fifty Shades Trilogy: Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed 3-volume Boxed Set : James, E L: Amazon.in: Books.

What does Anastasia Steele look like in the book? ›

Appearance. Anastasia describes herself as a pale, brown-haired young woman with blue eyes too big for her face. Ana has a fresh, youthful face and innocent appeal. She is described by Christian as beautiful, very attractive, and alluring, but she is shown to be rather insecure about being slim, pale, and scruffy.

Did Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan get along? ›

Dakota Johnson formed a sibling-like bond with Jamie Dornan. The pair played a couple in the Fifty Shades of Grey movies together, filming steamy romance scenes together as Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, respectively. "Weird" as it may be, Johnson, 32, told Vanity Fair she sees Dornan, 40, as a brother figure.

What does red mean in Fifty Shades of Grey? ›

You asked him to do that. He did. You have safe words—"yellow" for when you're getting concerned, and "red" for when you want to stop—and you didn't use them. So, yes.

Will there be Fifty Shades 4? ›

The book is the final installment of the "Fifty Shades as Told by Christian" trilogy. Tess Petak has been freelancing for Brides since 2020. Her work has also appeared in InStyle Magazine and on InStyle.com.

What is the last line in Fifty Shades Freed? ›

"You're topping from the bottom, Mrs. Grey. But I can live with that." This is (basically) the last line of dialogue in the movie—and the whole series.

What's the difference between Fifty Shades Darker unmasked? ›

The unrated version includes more sex and nudity and also alternate, more explicit takes, with 2 extended sex scenes plus 1 additional one, wherein the couple engage in sex after a game of billiards. It also has two scenes with Jennifer Ehle as Carla, Dakota Johnson/Anastasia's mother.

Is unrated worse than rated R? ›

R applies to movies that have strong language, sex, and violence, by accordance of the MPAA. Unrated is a cut extended with raunchier content that was not been seen by the MPAA. This usually applies to R Rated movies.

How much money did Dakota Johnson get for 50 Shades of GREY? ›

How much money did Dakota Johnson get paid for Fifty Shades of Grey? Because Johnson was not well-known at the time of her casting, she didn't make the big bucks (well, by Hollywood standards) for the first movie in the Fifty Shades series. For Fifty Shades of Grey, Johnson was reportedly paid $250,000.

Are all Fifty Shades connected? ›

The “Fifty Shades of Grey” movie series is a trilogy from Universal Studios. The lead characters of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele are played by Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson, respectively. The trilogy showcases an inextricable connection between the beautiful Dakota Johnson and handsome Jamie Dornan.

Who is the weird girl in 50 Shades Darker? ›

Leila Williams is a major antagonist in Fifty Shades Darker. She is the ex-lover of Christian Grey. She is based off of Victoria Sutherland. She was portrayed by Bella Heathcote.

Which part of Fifty Shades of Grey is best? ›

"Freed" Is the best Fifty Shades yet, and this film even manages to be a little steamy.

How does Fifty Shades of Grey book end? ›

At the end of Fifty Shades, Christian punishes Ana in the "red room of pain" (as Ana refers to Christian's dungeon), giving her quite the intense flogging.

What is the summary of Fifty Shades of Grey book? ›

Summary. When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him.

Who turned down the role of Anastasia Steele? ›

4. Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele in “Fifty Shades of Grey” Anastasia Steele was Dakota Johnson's breakout role in the “Fifty Shades” franchise, but the part nearly went to Emilia Clarke.

Was Anastasia Steele a virgin in the book? ›

Early in the story, protagonist Anastasia Steele tells Christian Grey that she's a virgin. He reacts with genuine surprise, exclaiming, "Where have you been?" There are two ways to read that line. One is right on the surface: he cannot believe that she lacks any sexual experience.

How old is Anastasia Steele supposed to be? ›

Dakota Johnson as Anastasia "Ana" Steele, a 21-year-old English Literature student attending Washington State University.

Did they use body doubles in 50 Shades of GREY? ›

Did you know Dakota Johnson refused to use a body double for her s*x scenes in Fifty Shades? When asked using a body double, the on-screen Anastasia Steele in an interview with Mirror said, “No, because it would have felt like a cop-out if I did.

What actors turned down Fifty Shades of Grey? ›

Emilia Clarke Explains Why She Turned Down 'Fifty Shades of Grey' for Its Nudity After Doing 'Game of Thrones' Imagine a Fifty Shades of Grey with Emilia Clarke as Anastasia Steele instead of Dakota Johnson. It almost happened, but Clarke ultimately turned down the role because of its nudity.

Who did Dakota Johnson marry? ›

Dakota Johnson
BornDakota Mayi Johnson October 4, 1989 Austin, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Partner(s)Chris Martin (2017–present)
4 more rows

What is tapping from the bottom? ›

'Topping from the bottom' is an expression used to describe a situation where a submissive attempts to control the play, the dynamic or the relationship from their submissive position using seduction, persuasion, provocation, puppy-dog-eyes, etc.

What is the tampon scene in Fifty Shades? ›

In E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey, there's a scene in which Anastasia Steele begs off sex because she has her period. Christian Grey responds by pulling out her tampon. Guys, don't try this at home. Unfortunately for book-to-film purists, the scene won't be included in the big-screen adaptation, out next month.

What is the difference between Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Darker unmasked? ›

The unrated version includes more sex and nudity and also alternate, more explicit takes, with 2 extended sex scenes plus 1 additional one, wherein the couple engage in sex after a game of billiards. It also has two scenes with Jennifer Ehle as Carla, Dakota Johnson/Anastasia's mother.

Should I watch Fifty Shades of Grey before Fifty Shades Darker? ›

The movie is set for release on Feb. 10, but before you make your Valentine's Day movie plans, know that if you missed it the first time around, you should probably see Fifty Shades of Grey before Fifty Shades Darker, even if it's not totally necessary to your understanding of the new film.

What happens in the book Fifty Shades Darker? ›

Anastasia Steele has ended her relationship with handsome entrepreneur Christian Grey after feeling daunted by his specific tastes and shady secrets. However, when Christian proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot help herself, and they rekindle their romance.

Is it the same actor in all Fifty Shades of Grey? ›

Jamie Dornan played Christian Grey in all three Fifty Shades of Grey movies, and while many franchise stars worry about typecasting, the Ireland native said it wasn't even a possibility for him.

Videos

1. Fifty Shades' Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson Talk Being Naked On Set | TODAY
(TODAY)
2. FIFTY SHADES 4: Revenge Teaser (2023) With Jamie Dornan & Dakota Johnson
(Movie Raze)
3. Fifty Shades' Dakota Johnson Discusses Sex Scenes | TODAY
(TODAY)
4. Confessions from "Fifty Shades'' Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson | Glamour
(Glamour)
5. 5 Movies Like Fifty Shades of Grey (or even better)
(Smart DNS Proxy)
6. Film Theory: Fifty Shades of Grey Cult Theory
(The Film Theorists)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lidia Grady

Last Updated: 01/25/2023

Views: 6322

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lidia Grady

Birthday: 1992-01-22

Address: Suite 493 356 Dale Fall, New Wanda, RI 52485

Phone: +29914464387516

Job: Customer Engineer

Hobby: Cryptography, Writing, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Calligraphy, Web surfing, Ghost hunting

Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.