AMERICAN SNIPER Earns $1.04 Million In First Five Days – Watch The Q&A With Cast And Filmmakers

On the heels of a record-breaking Christmas Day opening, Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed AMERICAN SNIPER has become the highest-grossing limited release (10 theatres or less) in cinema history, it was announced today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

A riveting portrait of Chris Kyle’s heroism and the struggles he faced on both the battlefield and the homefront, AMERICAN SNIPER earned $1.04 million in its first five days in release, shattering the previous record with an astounding $260,000 per theatre average.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, “Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper have created a remarkable portrayal of a truly remarkable man. We are proud that ‘American Sniper’ is already resonating so strongly with critics and audiences as we begin our roll out of the film, and we look forward to sharing this story with the rest of the country in the New Year.”

From director Clint Eastwood comes AMERICAN SNIPER, starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, whose skills as a sniper made him a hero on the battlefield. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter.

Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.” However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world. Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the spirit of the SEAL creed to “leave no one behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

Two-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper heads the cast, which also includes Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban and Keir O’Donnell.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood (“Million Dollar Baby,” “Unforgiven”) directed AMERICAN SNIPER from a screenplay written by Jason Hall, based on the book by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The autobiography was a runaway bestseller, spending 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, 13 of those at number one.

The film is produced by Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper and Peter Morgan. Tim Moore, Jason Hall, Sheroum Kim, Steven Mnuchin and Bruce Berman served as executive producers.

Eastwood’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Tom Stern (“Changeling”), Oscar-nominated production designer James J. Murakami (“Changeling”) and production designer Charisse Cardenas, Oscar-winning editor Joel Cox (“Unforgiven”) and editor Gary D. Roach, and costume designer Deborah Hopper.

AMERICAN SNIPER has been rated R for strong and disturbing war violence and language throughout, including some sexual references.

The American Film Institute announced in December that Eastwood’s film was one of the 11 movies on its official selections of AFI AWARDS 2014.

AMERICAN SNIPER is in limited theaters now for awards season consideration; opens wide January 16.