Bradley Cooper’s "American Sniper" tops box office with $90M

PanARMENIAN.Net - "American Sniper" has massive success at the weekend box office. The Clint Eastwood-directed movie rules the domestic box office after garnering an estimated $90.2 million. With the number, "Sniper" smashed a record by James Cameron's "Avatar" which previously held the biggest January weekend performance with $68 million in 2010., AceShowbiz reports.

The movie, which is up for six categories at the upcoming Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, additionally becomes Eastwood's biggest debut. It opened on Friday with approximately $30 million after being released in limited theaters in December, while his "Gran Torino" garnered $29.5 million in 2008.

Second and third position at the box office are taken by newcomers "The Wedding Ringer" and "Paddington". The comedy starring Kevin Hart, Joe Gad and Kaley Cuoco is far behind "Sniper" with an estimated $21 million. "Paddington", meanwhile, is trailing behind with an estimated $19.3 million.

Last week's first placer, Liam Neeson-starring "Tak3n", dives to number four after garnering an approximate $14.1 million in its second week. Dropping to number five from last week's second spot is "Selma" which collected approximately $8.3 million.

"The Imitation Game" keeps its position steady at No. 6 after collecting approximately $7.2 million. The next spots are taken by "Into the Woods", "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" and "Unbroken". Another newcomer at the weekend box office is "Blackhat". Starring Chris Hemsworth, the cybercrime-themed movie rounds out the top ten with an estimated $4 million.