‘American Sniper’: 5 Reasons for Historic Breakout at Box Office

the wrap ^ | 1/18/15 | todd cunningham

[TurboZamboni]

The electrifying $90.2 million wide opening of “American Sniper” – shattering records for the best January openings by tens of millions of dollars — stunned box office analysts and even distributor Warner Bros. Sunday.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Dan Fellman, head of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. told TheWrap.

The Clint Eastwood-directed Iraq War saga starring Bradley Cooper was on pace to top $100 million over the four-day Martin Luther King holiday weekend, uncharted territory for a movie at this time of year. It was an explosive and historic start for Village Roadshow’s R-rated “American Sniper,” which was adapted by Jason Hall from the late U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle’s autobiography.

[jsanders2001]

> The silence was palpable.

We somberely left the theater with an even greater understanding and admiration for “Our” American Service members.

This is exactly what I observed too. Very somber attitude as everyone walked out of the movie theater. I know a sniper who was over there when this happened who saw it too. He told me the movie was pretty close to what he experienced with one slight difference. In the move the “spotter” that’s with him is always sitting around and talking while the sniper was doing his own spotting (which is very tiring on their eyes; having done hours of surveillance sitting with my eyes glued to one spot I think I have an understanding of what it would feel like).

[wmfights]

Yep, if Spielberg had directed, it may well have presented Chris Kyle as a sociopath owing to his suppressed homosexuality. So, with Clint Eastwood, we get a true reflection of the realities instead of agitprop.

The lefties just don't know us, let alone those that are so much more. Chris Kyle and the other "sheep dogs" are to be honored for who they are never denigrated.

[cardinal4]

I agree and I can’t wait to see it, too..

[CivilWarBrewing]

You mean, Odungo trading 5 Taliban commanders for one DESERTER TO THE TALIBAN wasn’t just a mistake? Or his no show at the Paris anti-terror march wasn’t just a mistake? Or his releasing of 5 more Yemeni terrorists from Guantanamo one week after Yemeni-trained terrorists attacked Paris wasn’t just a mistake? /s

[exit82]

I am grateful that so many are seeing this movie.

America is not finished yet.

[Inyo-Mono]

Just watched American Sniper.

One of the best films I have ever seen. Like most here on FR that have seen it, I too sat in silence through the end credits. Very patriotic and American film.

[Vendome]

My brother was on the Kearsarge, docked in Aqaba 2005, when it was attacked.

He hit the deck, sprawling for cover, and tore a rotator cuff.

My Mom called to tell me about it and asked for my thoughts.

“Uhm, fk them ragheads. Karma is a real good friend of oir men and I’m sure they’ll get Godsmacked for doing something stupid”.

Don’t know the timeline but, he was a boatswain and the next couple missions had extras loaded on their ribbed boats.

He left last year, 25 years in and he needs to have both shoulders done now. What will that wait time be?

Got a buddy who has all kinds of health problems from his service on a sub. He was radar day to day and did some other stuff he can’t talk about but, he believes that particular work is what got him sick, as are a few others, who did that same secret thing.

He is on a waiting list for whatever ails him and twice in the last three years I thought he was a goner. All sickly looking, gaunt and I never saw black teeth before.

I hope he gets help. Too friggin young.

[Vendome]

Weird.

The spotter has better optics for observing. I’d be pissed at someone make me do all the lifting.

[Argus]

I’m sensing a big revolt brewing. Real Americans have had enough of “progressive” insults.

[Vendome]

There is a point when they break through the beach, at the beginning of the film and a Jewish soldier does something that instantly had me crying.

I’ll save that surprise for you.

[hawkaw]

I agree. My wife and I saw it last night. It was was a great movie.

[sand88]

Against such a ghoulish adversary, we are fully within our rights to use nuclear weapons to reduce the enemy to radioactive dust across the entire swath of the Islamic crescent from Morocco through Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Arabia, Iran, Pakistan up to Malaysia and the Indonesian archipelago.”

In a hundred years our descendants will curse this generation for NOT doing what you state.

Islam is an evil that is out to devour and destroy the West.

Islam must be obliterated or the West will die.

[deweyfrank]

I think to make it fair, Obama should confiscate half the movies take and give it to the “Selma” producers; you know, for “reparations”. Don't be surprised if he doesn't try it. Look for Eastwood to be audited by the IRS.

[Paladin2]

The quote comes from here:

http://learntheology.com/history_of_jihad_zoroastrians_iran.html

It's a good read of some history.

[Bratch]

Heartland Passion: You don’t run up numbers like “American Sniper” did without scoring broadly, but Middle America made a major difference.  

“It played great everywhere, in the big cities and suburbs and red and blue states,” said Dan Fellman.

“But if you look at the top 20 locales, you see places like Texas, Oklahoma, Albuquerque, which don’t normally turn out for R-rated films. It played like a superhero movie in places like Dallas, but this time the superhero was real, and that mattered.”

[ctdonath2]

Any rumors about on-demand/streaming availability on iTunes?
(I’ve little remaining interest in theaters.)

[TEXOKIE]

Prayers up for your brother and buddy, Vendome. That is quite a story.

[TEXOKIE]

I appreciate the heads up, but not spoiling it!

[TEXOKIE]

“Absolutely! And we’ll just make sure to to put Spoiler Alert in the title, for those who still haven’t seen it. But, yes, we’ll wait a couple months.”

If there is a Sniper thread later, please ping me!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Saw the film “American Sniper” today. Theater was packed...not an open seat. And.....this on a day, when media, “Deadline Hollywood” said it would be negatively impacted by the NFL Playoff games....More “Hollywood Hogwash”!!!

Terrific film about the defense of country and the toll it takes on the men and women who defend it. Sherman once stated that “War is Hell”, and it certainly is. While the human vermin, Barack Obama is playing golf, making love to his beloved, Muslim brotherhood, brethren, and his wife Michelle stuffs her pie hole with fried chicken, in Hawaii, the men and women of the USA military, are putting their lives on the line for “us”, “we”, the American people!!!

Thank you Clint Eastwood, thank you, Bradley Cooper, and thank you, the entire staff and actors of this magnificent film, that is so....”AMERICAN”!!!
This film is so outstanding, it has sucked all of the air...out of the room in one short weekend of showings!!! America is coming back....big time!!! Your fifteen minutes of fame is over Democrat vermin, Obama and company!!! The American people have spoken with both their attendance amd revenue in viewing this film!!! God bless America and folks, like the late, Chrs Kyle, etc. We...love you!!!