Dakota Johnson is having a moment. After a string of underperforming projects, she bounced back with the 2025 romantic drama Materialists, which paired her with Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal and pulled in nearly $110 million worldwide on a modest $20 million budget. That success was a welcome change from her superhero debut, Madame Web, which didn't exactly set the box office on fire. Now, with the highly anticipated Verity on the horizon—starring Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett—Johnson is poised for another win, possibly her biggest since her breakout role.
That breakout, of course, is Fifty Shades of Grey, the steamy erotic thriller that made Johnson a household name. The film, based on E.L. James's bestselling novel, remains the highest-grossing erotic thriller of all time, earning a staggering $570 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and co-starring Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, and Marcia Gay Harden, it was a cultural phenomenon despite mixed reviews—it currently holds a 25% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it "less than satisfying" but acknowledging its creative improvements over the book.
If you've been meaning to revisit the film or see it for the first time, now's the time. Fifty Shades of Grey is currently streaming on Peacock in the U.S., but it's set to leave the platform on September 1, 2026. That's also when its two sequels—Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed—will be removed. The sequels, directed by the late James Foley, were shot back-to-back and, while they received even harsher reviews, they collectively grossed over $700 million worldwide, proving the franchise's enduring appeal.
For fans of Johnson's work, this is a chance to see where it all began before she returns to the erotic thriller genre with Verity. Based on Colleen Hoover's novel, Verity is expected to deliver results similar to last year's The Housemaid, another Hoover adaptation that was a major hit. With Johnson's recent momentum and the star power of Hathaway and Hartnett, Verity could easily become her biggest film since the Fifty Shades era.
While you wait for Verity, you might also want to catch up on other titles leaving streaming soon. For instance, Brad Pitt's WWII romance Allied is also departing Paramount+ in September, and there's a list of seven movies leaving Netflix in September that might be worth a look. But if you're in the mood for something steamy, Fifty Shades is your best bet.
Don't miss your chance to watch Dakota Johnson's iconic performance before it disappears from Peacock. Mark your calendars for September 1, and prepare for a marathon of the entire trilogy if you're feeling adventurous. And stay tuned for more updates on Verity and other streaming departures.
