LONDON, January 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
"American Sniper," the acclaimed new film from Oscar-winning filmmaker Clint Eastwood, is a hit at the UK box office on its opening weekend, earning £2.535M at the UK & Ireland box office. The film, a riveting human drama starring Bradley Cooper as U.S. Navy sniper Chris Kyle, and Sienna Miller as his wife Taya, is Clint Eastwood's biggest ever UK opening. The announcement was made today by Josh Berger, President and Managing Director, WBUK and Ireland.
American Sniper has already collected six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, as well as Eastwood's fourth nomination from the Directors Guild of America, and Jason Hall being named among the BAFTA and Writers Guild of America nominees for the film's screenplay. "Clint Eastwood has delivered a compelling film, anchored by tremendous performances by Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller that is resonating with UK audiences" said Josh Berger. "Along with our partners at Village Roadshow Pictures, we congratulate the cast and film-makers on this fantastic opening."
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. A two-time Oscar nominee for his work in "Silver Linings Playbook" and "American Hustle," Cooper heads the cast, which also includes Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban and Keir O'Donnell.
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. Warner Bros. Pictures presents in Association with Village Roadshow Pictures, A Mad Chance Production, A 22nd & Indiana Production, "American Sniper." Opening in theatres and IMAX®, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.
Notes to editor
American Sniper played at 411 sites across the UK & Ireland including 13 IMAX.
American Sniper almost doubled Clint Eastwood's previous best opener, Gran Torino, which opened to £1.35M in 2008
For film stills, please visit our WB image website
https://mediapass.warnerbros.com
