Unavoidably, American Sniper incorporated a significant amount of patriotic themes, layered with a heavy political atmosphere. On the day of the premiere, many veterans, their families, and Chris Kyle's former comrades were invited by Matthew to the Hollywood Theater for the event.
Outside the venue, a large crowd protesting against terrorism gathered, drawing substantial media attention.
Matthew and Warner Bros. spared no effort in promoting the film's box office potential. Hollywood, after all, never hesitates to exploit patriotism when it can be profitable.
In fact, this isn't exclusive to Hollywood—movies worldwide that profit under the banner of patriotism are too numerous to count. Such methods are standard fare for Hollywood, skillfully and routinely employed.
To emphasize the anti-terrorism message and showcase American patriotism, Matthew even gave up the lead red-carpet spot to Chris Kyle. He didn't need the limelight, nor did Clint Eastwood, the seasoned cowboy. Instead, the most prominent red-carpet moments were given to Margot Robbie and Chris Kyle alongside his wife, Taya Kyle.
Matthew walked the red carpet, took a group photo with several veterans, and briefly answered questions in the interview zone. Meanwhile, under Matthew's and Warner Bros.' orchestration, Chris and Taya Kyle became the center of attention for countless reporters.
"Matthew mentioned that your personal charisma added a lot to the character," one journalist asked Chris Kyle. "Are you as composed in real life as you are on the battlefield?"
Having undergone the trials of publishing a book, interviews, fame, and the veteran shooting incident, Chris Kyle was no longer the socially inexperienced soldier he once was. He smiled and replied, "I'm laid-back in life and aggressive at work—it's like being two different people, constantly switching between them."
Not all reporters were friendly. One sharply asked, "Why did you write a book? Was it to gain fame?"
Chris Kyle, however, had grown adept at handling such questions. "If I didn't write it, someone else would have. I'd rather write it myself—to honor my brothers."
This was true enough. In North America's book market, writing a biography doesn't require the subject's permission.
"Can you talk about taking out another sniper from two kilometers away?" a reporter asked.
Chris Kyle appeared modest. "It wasn't a fair fight. I had much more advanced equipment and firearms than he did."
That same reporter pressed further. "You killed 200 people. Do you regret it?"
"I get asked this question a lot," Chris Kyle responded calmly. "Clearly, it shows a lack of respect for modern soldiers. I don't regret killing anyone because they threatened the lives of my comrades. My mission was to minimize the price my comrades paid in war."
Taya Kyle added, "People always focus on how many people Chris killed during the war. What he really wants to know is how many he saved."
Chris Kyle continued, "You always remember the comrades you couldn't save. That pain stays with you forever."
Matthew observed Chris and Taya Kyle. The two had become adept at handling even sensitive questions, thanks to extensive publicity training.
After the interviews, the cast and crew posed for photos with sponsors. About half an hour later, Matthew entered the theater.
"I didn't expect Americans to be so patriotic," Margot Robbie said as she glanced back at the crowd outside the Hollywood Theater. "I thought Americans didn't care about these things."
Matthew shrugged. "You should never underestimate the public's love for their country."
Margot Robbie spoke bluntly. "The Americans I remember wouldn't bat an eye if the Union fell apart or the country collapsed."
"Are you talking about me?" Matthew asked, clearly self-aware.
Margot Robbie laughed. "I wasn't talking about you."
Matthew spread his hands. "There are plenty of people like me who are indifferent to the fate of the Union, but there are far more patriotic ones."
He was telling the truth. His unique experiences had shaped him into someone who wouldn't easily fall into the typical patriotic mold.
Margot Robbie didn't hold back. "What great patriotism."
Matthew didn't bother hiding it. "I love this kind of patriotism."
The surge of patriotism Americans displayed after the Benghazi consulate attack, for example, would undoubtedly boost American Sniper. The film's stellar box office pre-sales had already proven that.
Matthew believed the patriotic fervor in the U.S. would result in an explosive opening weekend for American Sniper.
"By the way," Margot Robbie asked, "when does the overseas promotional tour officially start?"
Matthew replied casually, "Not for at least two weeks. We'll visit major overseas markets, including your home country, Australia."
Margot Robbie nodded. "The premiere in Australia won't be at some place like Dolby, right?"
"Of course not," Matthew said. There was no way he'd pick such a small venue. "It'll be later in Sydney."
He added, "The film's international release will roll out gradually two weeks from now."
Margot Robbie, who knew a bit about such strategies, remarked, "I get it. You're waiting for the North American box office to take off, so it drives interest overseas, right?"
Matthew didn't deny it. "Something like that. The subject of this film might not be particularly appealing in overseas markets, especially non-English-speaking ones. If it performs well in North America, international interest will naturally follow."
This was a well-established fact. Any Hollywood film that does well in North America usually garners worldwide attention.
The prospects for American Sniper in North America were highly optimistic. As an R-rated film, many media outlets and industry experts predicted an opening weekend of $80 million, with a final domestic box office gross exceeding $300 million.
Undeniably, the film's social impact was giving it a significant boost.
Matthew and Margot Robbie entered the VIP lounge. Many of Matthew's friends had come to support him, including Michael Fassbender, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Keira Knightley, all of whom had accepted his invitation to walk the red carpet.
After a brief chat with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew noticed that Leo's girlfriend had changed again—another young, beautiful blonde model.
It was often said that wherever DiCaprio was, young models would follow, and that couldn't have been more accurate.
Matthew began to notice something amusing—it seemed like Leo was competing with him in some unspoken way, as the pace of his model-swapping was accelerating.
"I heard you attended a party hosted by Taylor Swift recently," Leonardo said directly. "It was full of up-and-coming supermodels. If I don't pick up the pace, you'll snatch all the best ones."
Matthew looked helpless. "What can I do if I'm too popular?"
After exchanging a few quips with Leo, Matthew found Keira Knightley to ask about something important.
"How's Lily doing?" he asked with concern.
"She's much better now," Keira sighed. "You've been busy, so I didn't take her to Australia to see you. She should be fine."
Matthew nodded. "That's good to hear."
A couple of days ago, he'd called Lily-Rose Depp, his goddaughter, and noticed she had grown significantly more mature due to her parents' situation.
The suggestion from him and Keira for Lily to leave France had, in some ways, spared her unnecessary harm. This was partly thanks to Johnny Depp.
Perhaps he had taken Matthew and Keira's advice to heart. When Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis split, they did so discreetly, avoiding a public spectacle. As a result, the shocking gossip quickly subsided, and the media's attention never focused on Lily, who was safely out of sight.
Overall, the amicable breakup between Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis minimized the damage to Lily.
There wasn't much else Matthew could do. Parental separation inevitably leaves some scars on children.
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