Clint Eastwood's American Sniper has made $105.3 at the box office after just a few days, absolutely shattering January film records. It seems that anyone who has seen it this past weekend is saying that it is absolutely a must-see flick. Of course there is a disgruntled group giving voice to the notion that American Sniper is little more than pro-war propaganda but the bottom line is that in order to really form an opinion, you've got to check out the film.

Variety pointed out that word-of-mouth really helped to propel this film to rake in the kind of numbers that it already has:

What was amazing about American Sniper's performance is that, despite dealing with the unpopular Iraq War and such depressing topics as post-traumatic stress disorder, it put up numbers similar to a blockbuster summer release.

Analysts likened the reception to Guardians of the Galaxy, which shattered expectations last summer in part because of the endorsements it received on social media platforms. By debuting in a handful of theaters on Christmas, American Sniper was able to build support organically.

"This is unprecedented," said Phil Contrino, vice president and chief analyst at BoxOffice.com. "In the climate we live in, word-of-mouth can push a movie really far, really fast."

American Sniper also benefited from its 332 Imax screenings, where it is expected to generate $11.5 million for the four-day weekend and enjoyed the format's biggest ever R-rated opening. In premium large formats, the war drama made $9.7 million for the weekend.

Have you gone to see American Sniper yet? If so, what are your thoughts? Last week the film and its star, Bradley Cooper, were both nominated for Oscars. Do you think that kind of recognition is deserved? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

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