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 The film, which broke the record for a January weekend as
well as for any drama opening ever, was directed by Clint
Eastwood and stars Bradley Cooper.
"American Sniper" virtually doubled industry expectations after
widely expanding to some 3,500 screens from just a handful of
theaters the day after scoring six Oscar nominations, including
best picture and best actor for Cooper, who plays a Navy Seal
sharpshooter.
R-rated comedy "The Wedding Ringer" finished second with $21
million for three days through Sunday during the U.S. Martin
Luther King Day holiday weekend.
Another new release, family film "Paddington" based on the
series of classic children's books about a loveable bear, was
third with $19.3 million, but could move up to second after
Monday when schools are closed.
Dan Fellman, head of domestic distribution at the Time Warner
Inc. unit Warner Bros., which distributed "American Sniper,"
said it had become "an instant cultural phenomenon."
"People in small towns, big and small cities, in the heartland,
in both red and blue states, people who go to the movies once
every year or two, they all came out," Fellman said.
The film, expected to add another $15 million on Monday, set
records in IMAX theaters, unusual for a drama, and far surpassed
Eastwood's "Gran Torino" which opened at $29.5 million in 2008.
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"The Wedding Ringer" stars Kevin Hart and Josh Gad in a buddy comedy
about a for-hire best man, played by Hart. It also set a record, for
an R-rated comedy January opening.
"We definitely succeeded alongside it," said Rory Bruer, president
of worldwide distribution for Sony Corp's studio, speaking to "Sniper"'s
success which did not hurt other top films. "It's been a fun weekend
to watch."
The family-friendly "Paddington," which won rave reviews with 98
percent of critics on website Rottentomatoes giving it a fresh
rating, chronicles the adventures of the bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw,
who travels to London from Peru seeking a home. Hugh Bonneville,
Sally Hawkins and Nicole Kidman star.
Rounding out the top five, Liam Neeson thriller "Taken 3" took in
$14.1 million, according to tracking firm Rentrak, while civil
rights drama and Oscar nominee "Selma" earned $8.3 million.
"Paddington" was released by The Weinstein Company. "Taken 3" was
distributed by Fox, a unit of Twenty-first Century Fox. "Selma" was
distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.
(Editing by Rosalind Russell)
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