If the award for best picture at the Academy Awards were decided by ticket sales, “American Sniper” would have been given the trophy two weeks ago.
Director Clint Eastwood’s film about former U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle has collected three times the total box office money of the second-highest earning best picture nominee and is showing no signs of slowing down.
As of today, “American Sniper” has made more than $213 million in the United States, according to Box Office Mojo. To put that total into perspective, the other seven nominees combined have made approximately $253.8 million.
“The Imitation Game,” about British computer pioneer Alan Turing, is second, making $61.6 million since its release last November. Of the eight nominees, only “Whiplash” didn’t get a wide release — meaning at least 600 theaters — not surprisingly it brings up the rear with $7.6 million in domestic box office earnings.
The 2015 Oscars will be handed out Feb. 22 in Hollywood.
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Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
