"American Sniper" box office numbers higher than first projected

"American Sniper": Bradley Cooper on playing lethal sharpshooter

The box office results for "American Sniper" were even bigger than first estimated.

"American Sniper" sets record at holiday weekend box office

Clint Eastwood's war film raked in $107 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Initial figures had it at $102 million for the wide-release weekend.

"American Sniper" marks the biggest January weekend ever -- and the second highest R-rated debut behind "The Matrix Reloaded" at $91.7 million. It's also Eastwood's biggest opening, too, topping his 2008 film, "Gran Torino," with $29 million.

The film had trickled out in very limited release two weeks before opening nationwide.

"American Sniper," which is up for six Oscars including best picture, follows Bradley Cooper playing real-life Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.

Cooper, who packed on 40 pounds of muscle for the role, says the film has a lot of depth.

"I never saw it as a war movie, I saw it as a character study," Cooper told CBS News. "So, I never even contemplated anything other than someone would get to know this man and his family."

The movie's wide release has sparked a lot of talk in Hollywood from the likes of Michael Moore, Seth Rogen and others.

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