NEW YORK — American Sniper has shot down another box-office record: Its $31.9 million is the biggest Super Bowl weekend gross ever.
According to studio estimates Sunday, the Clint Eastwood film narrowly surpassed the previous top Super Bowl weekend draw. The concert film Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour earned $31.1 million earned in 2008.
Hollywood often avoids competing with the Super Bowl, but American Sniper has proven an unlikely sensation. It has now made $248.9 million in six weeks, making it the most lucrative war movie without adjusting for inflation.
The competition was thin. The animated adaptation Paddington came in a distant second with $8.5 million, in a virtual tie with Paramount's found-footage thriller Project Almanac.
Kevin Costner's Black or White opened in fourth with $6.5 million.