American Sniper’ Shatters Records With $90.2 Million Weekend..

“American Sniper” hit the bullseye, earning an astonishing $90.2 million in its debut weekend in wide release.

It is now on pace to decimate records for the Martin Luther King holiday and for the month of January, pulling in roughly $105 million over the four-day period. It’s also a new high-water mark for director Clint Eastwood, whose previous weekend record was the $29.5 million wide release opening for 2008’s “Gran Torino.” At 84, he’s still got it.

For context’s sake, the previous top-grossing Martin Luther King weekend release was last year’s “Ride Along” with $48.6 million.

“The movie has become a cultural phenomenon,” said Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. head of domestic distribution. “It tore apart the record book and not by a little. By an enormous amount.”

“American Sniper” recently picked up Oscar nods for best picture and best actor for star Bradley Cooper, and the awards buzz only intensified interest in the film. »