“American Sniper is a bona fide cultural phenomenon.

The war drama, which racked up a surprising 6 Oscar nominations—including Best Picture—collected a massive $90.2 million in its opening weekend to set a record for January. Its nearest competition was James Cameron’s Avatar, which grossed $68.5 million in its first January frame on its way to $760 million domestic and close to $2.8 billion worldwide.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film tells the real-life tale of Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. Nicknamed “Legend,” the Navy SEAL served four tours in the Iraq War, received several commendations for valor, and racked up 160 confirmed kills—though he later claimed the actual number was 255.”* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

*Read more here:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/19/american-sniper-seth-rogen-michael-moore-jane-fonda-and-other-stars-take-sides.html