Fifty Shades of Grey: Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson

01 of 10

SO WHO'S THIS CHRISTIAN GUY & WHY SHOULD I BE IN LOVE WITH HIM?

In literature, there are knights in shining armor … and then there are nightmares in grey neckties. We'd say Christian Grey is the latter in Fifty Shades of Grey, a love story about the ties that bind (both literally and figuratively) that introduces us to a misunderstood mogul (played by Jamie Dornan) who's equal parts sexy, successful and troubled by his painful past. That dark side comes out in the bedroom, which is a safe-for-work way of saying that some of Grey's interests involve trips to the hardware store for rope.

02 of 10

GOTCHA. SO WHO'S THIS ANASTASIA GIRL?

We had a feeling you were wondering who was at the receiving end of said silk tie. Enter: our doe-eyed 21-year-old damsel in distress, Anastasia Steele (played by Dakota Johnson), who might just have what it takes to turn our complicated protagonist into the kind of boyfriend who thinks cuddling up on the couch to Netflix is just as entertaining as, say, putting those hardware store purchases to use.

03 of 10

OKAY, I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING – SO HOW'D THEY MEET?

Like all the great love stories, Anastasia and Christian's almost didn't even happen: Our heroine, a college senior at the time, only met the well-accessorized entrepreneur when she had to fill in for her best friend Kate, a writer for their campus newspaper who started feeling sick when her coveted interview with Mr. Grey was scheduled. And you thought we were going to say Tinder.

04 of 10

SO … WHEN DO THINGS GET … DIFFERENT?

The budding Sherlocks among us probably knew Christian Grey wasn't your average Romeo long before he showed off his whip collection. The first major hint: Grey's suggestive purchases – masking tape, rope and cable ties – from the hardware store Ana worked at.

05 of 10

AND EXACTLY WHERE DOES HE PLAN TO USE THOSE NEW … THINGS?

AN INTRODUCTION TO (LOWERS VOICE) THE RED ROOM

Christian's Red Room of Pain. Need we say more?

06 of 10

OKAY, SO HOW DOES ONE GET TO THIS SO-CALLED RED ROOM? #ASKINGFORAFRIEND

You'll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, as one does.

07 of 10

IS IT HOT IN HERE OR IS IT JUST ME?

Prepare yourself: early reviews of the film tease at least 20 minutes of make-you-blush action.

08 of 10

BUT SERIOUSLY – CAN SOMEONE TURN ON, LIKE, A FAN OR SOMETHING?

Same.

09 of 10

WHO THOUGHT OF THIS STUFF ANYWAYS?

Author E. L. James is the true mastermind behind the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy (no offense, Mr. Grey). "This is my midlife crisis, writ large," she said when her work shot to fame in 2012. "All my fantasies, out there."

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