newsmakers

newsmakers

‘American Sniper’ astounds with $105.3M

NEW YORK

Clint Eastwood’s R-rated Iraq War drama “American Sniper” opened in January like a superhero movie in July, taking in a record $105.3 million over the Martin Luther King Jr. four-day weekend.

The film’s unprecedented success obliterated forecasts and set numerous box-office records. It easily surpassed “Avatar” to become the biggest January weekend ever.

The resounding wide- release opening also is tops for Eastwood, whose previous best weekend was the $29.5 million wide release of 2009’s “Gran Torino.” And it, in one weekend, gives the Oscar best-picture race something it was lacking: a big ol’ box-office hit.

The remarkable success of “American Sniper” didn’t appear to hurt other releases. The Weinstein Co.’s well-reviewed animated film “Paddington” opened with an estimated $25.2 million over the four-day weekend. The Kevin Hart, Josh Gaad comedy “The Wedding Ringer” debuted with $24.5 million for Sony Pictures.

Plitt was filming when killed by train in Calif.

BURBANK, Calif.

A fitness model and actor who previously shot workout videos on railroad tracks was struck and killed by a train during filming near Los Angeles.

Two men were videotaping George Plitt Jr., 37, on the tracks north of the Burbank train station when Plitt was hit by a Metrolink passenger train, according to Burbank police Sgt. Scott Meadows.

Investigators were trying to determine who directed the men to film in a restricted area of the tracks Saturday afternoon. Witnesses said they saw Plitt standing on the track even as the train’s horn was blaring, Meadows said.

Associated Press