Audiences were more than curious to check out the big-screen adaptation of the racy phenomenon "Fifty Shades of Grey" this weekend. The erotic R-rated drama sizzled in its debut, earning an estimated $81.7 million from 3,646 theaters in its first three days, distributor Universal Pictures said on Sunday.

In addition to destroying Valentine's and Presidents Day weekend records, "Fifty Shades of Grey" has also become the second-highest February debut ever, behind "Passion of the Christ's" $83.9 million opening in 2004.

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "The Imitation Game" won big one week ahead of Hollywood's award-season Oscars showdown, snagging top prizes at the annual Writers Guild of America awards ceremony Saturday.

Director Wes Anderson accepted the trophy for best original screenplay for his comedic caper about a concierge who befriends the lobby boy at the Grand Budapest Hotel in the fictitious Republic of Zubrowka.

With only a week to go before the Oscars, the all-important Best Picture prize appears locked in a two-horse race between dark comedy "Birdman" and coming-of-age drama "Boyhood."

But as Hollywood counts down the days to next Sunday's show, some are suggesting that controversial blockbuster "American Sniper" could yet surprise, and best the two indie films.

Billionaire Michele Ferrero, who became Italy's richest man with a confectionery empire built on his popular Nutella spread, died on Saturday at the age of 89.

"I have learned with emotion of the passing of Michele Ferrero, a true entrepreneur, known and loved in Italy and abroad," Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement.

Sherlock Holmes star Benedict Cumberbatch married pregnant fiancee Sophie Hunter on Saturday, according to British media, with British actress Keira Knightley among the stars joining the celebrations.

Cumberbatch, 38, who has been nominated for his depiction of World War II codebreaker Alan Turing in "The Imitation Game", wed theater director Hunter, 36, at a ceremony attended by close friends and family on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, according the Daily Telegraph.

The son of actor Jackie Chan apologized to the public Saturday and asked for a second chance following his release from a six-month jail sentence for allowing people to use marijuana in his apartment.

Jaycee Chan, 32, said at a news conference that he was rededicating himself to his family and entertainment business career. He said he had "no reason, no excuse" for the behavior that led to his arrest in August alongside Taiwanese actor Ko Kai and others.

With Beyonce, Rihanna and Diddy among the front-row celebrity royalty, Kanye West rolled out his Yeezy Boost shoe line for Adidas on Thursday as his baby North fussed in mama Kim Kardashian's arms next to a stone-faced Anna Wintour.

Models, men and women, wore minimal neutral tights or street wear in red, green and black to let the shoes shine in a tech-driven unveiling that included a simulcast to 42 theaters on three continents around the world.

The race for the Golden Bear top prize at the 65th Berlin film festival shaped up as a dead heat Saturday, with break-out talents looking well placed to pip cinema heavyweights.

Ahead of a gala awards ceremony in the German capital for the Berlinale, as the 11-day event is known, a slow-burn British drama about a foundering marriage and a banned Iranian picture emerged as favourites.

Casting aside its economic woes, corruption scandals and recent humiliation on the football pitch, Brazil opened five days of non-stop partying Friday as Rio de Janeiro's Carnival officially opened.

"King Momo," the portly partier who presides over Carnival, declared the festivities open as he received the keys to the city after arriving in a limousine flanked by the carnival queen and two princesses.

It's the million dollar question. More than a year after revelations that French President Francois Hollande had cheated on his partner with actress Julie Gayet, are the two lovebirds still together?

News of the French leader's affair with Gayet, divulged by Closer magazine in January last year, prompted the 60-year-old to split with his long-term partner Valerie Trierweiler and rumours have swirled ever since that the president and actress are still an item.