On Saturday morning, Kevin Tsujihara didn't take the day off. Shortly after 8 a.m., he was already at his office. He had just settled into his chair when Dan Fellman, Warner Bros.' head of North American distribution, knocked on the door and walked in, his face brimming with excitement.
Pulling out a chair, Dan sat across from Kevin and asked, "Kevin, have you seen the stats yet?"
Kevin Tsujihara shook his head slightly. "No," he replied, though he knew what Dan was referring to. He smiled. "Do I really need to check? With a film starring Matthew Horner, success is never in question. The only uncertainty is how big the box office numbers will be."
"True," Dan Fellman agreed, chuckling. Then he continued, "The opening day box office numbers for American Sniper are in."
"How much?" Kevin couldn't help but ask.
Dan quickly answered, "Including early screenings, a total of $56.5 million."
Hearing this number, Kevin Tsujihara was visibly impressed. "Matthew is once again a guaranteed box office draw."
"American Sniper is sure to surpass $100 million in its opening weekend in North America," Dan said, his excitement barely contained. "It might even set a new record for R-rated films."
Kevin nodded. "What's the projected domestic and global box office for this film?"
After thinking for a moment, Dan replied, "Domestic is estimated at $300 million, and global at $500 million." He added, "I believe there's at least a 20% chance of exceeding those estimates."
Kevin chuckled. "We'll net at least $50 million in distribution fees alone. Distributing a Matthew Horner film is far more cost-effective than investing heavily in making one ourselves."
"Exactly," Dan agreed wholeheartedly. "Most importantly, we don't need to put in significant funding, so the risk is minimal."
Kevin pondered for a moment. "Let's maintain a strong relationship with Matthew Horner. I'll handle his side of things directly, and you focus on managing the relationship with Bella Anderson."
Dan immediately assured him, "I'll take care of it."
American Sniper was one of Warner Bros.' key releases for the second half of the year. The two of them went on to discuss some of the issues that had arisen during the film's distribution and screening.
"To be honest," Dan said, "I didn't expect the movie to perform this well. It's doing incredibly well not just in major cities but also in smaller towns and even in Canada."
He continued, "And it's not limited by political affiliations. American Sniper is performing strongly in states dominated by both Democrats and Republicans, especially in Midwestern cities with large veteran populations."
Kevin nodded again. "Matthew is top-tier in both skill and luck. And this is an R-rated film, no less."
Dan chuckled. "It turns out the R-rating doesn't matter anymore. To many viewers, this isn't just a war movie—it's being treated like a superhero blockbuster."
According to the data Dan had reviewed, American Sniper was more appealing to adult audiences than superhero films, which are often rated PG-13 and designed to attract younger viewers with youthful themes.
Market surveys showed that, after the first day, only 30% of the audience for American Sniper was under 22. Most of the audience came because of Matthew Horner, and the film itself strongly resonated with viewers aged 22 and above.
The film was being perceived as an adult-oriented superhero blockbuster because the protagonist, Chris Kyle, performed feats on the battlefield that seemed almost superhuman.
Sharpshooters—whether with guns or bows, in fiction or reality—have always been among the most compelling characters on the big screen. From Legolas in The Lord of the Rings to Katniss in The Hunger Games, to cowboys in Westerns and spies in thrillers, their precision and calmness consistently captivate audiences.
Chris Kyle, being a real-life figure, intrigued people with his remarkable story. The film's portrayal of his extraordinary accuracy on the battlefield delivered a thrill that went beyond the typical war movie experience.
Moreover, while some criticized Kyle as a mercenary, data showed that most Americans viewed him differently. Many saw him as a hero who saved countless American soldiers and willingly returned to the battlefield multiple times.
Even after retiring, Kyle continued to help other veterans.
Dan recalled a recording of an interview with an ordinary viewer who said, "Chris Kyle is a true hero, a patriotic hero who deserves to be respected as a role model for America."
Dan understood that regardless of international opinions on the film or Kyle himself, American Sniper was, in North America, a film that aligned with public values and would be widely embraced.
The film's success was also bolstered by the current wave of patriotism among the public.
Both Warner Bros. and Matthew Horner tapped into this patriotic sentiment to drive ticket sales. Exploiting patriotism to make money might seem shameless, but in the face of profits, does shamelessness even matter?
The wide release of American Sniper also worked in its favor. It wasn't just film enthusiasts and critics watching the movie—ordinary people were flocking to theaters, bringing perspectives that differed from those of cinephiles.
Since the Thursday night previews, the film had sparked a massive discussion on social media. Some viewers felt a surge of patriotism after watching it, with some even expressing a desire to fight terrorists themselves.
Of course, the film also faced criticism.
Dan was particularly annoyed by some self-righteous commentators who accused American Sniper of fostering religious hatred.
"It's ridiculous," Dan muttered. "Not even Middle Eastern communities are complaining, yet these white Americans with their so-called universal moral standards are eager to criticize. It's infuriating."
Still, it wasn't all bad news.
The controversy only brought more attention to the film, giving it additional media coverage.
This kind of attention had previously benefited Matthew Horner's other film, Inception, which went on to gross over $1 billion globally.
As an industry veteran, Dan knew that public opinion had a significant impact on a film's box office performance. Controversy didn't necessarily hurt—it often led to free publicity.
He noted, "Word-of-mouth reviews will influence friends and family. As long as the buzz continues, American Sniper's box office in the coming weeks will remain steady, ensuring an impressive total gross."
Dan had another thought and added, "With its critical and commercial success, along with the current social and political climate, I think we should submit this film for next year's Oscars."
Kevin seemed to consider the idea but didn't respond immediately.
"This is a great opportunity," Dan pressed. "The film's director, Clint Eastwood, is 82 years old. It's been a decade since he last won an Oscar. He's universally respected by audiences and industry insiders. Wouldn't it be fitting to give him one more Oscar before he retires?"
No one could deny Clint Eastwood's contributions to Hollywood and his lasting influence.
"Clint Eastwood isn't the issue," Kevin said, shaking his head. "The real issue is Matthew."
He sighed. "Matthew Horner has no interest in the Oscars—everyone knows that. Besides, he's the producer of this film. We're just the distributors."
Dan scratched his head. "I overlooked that."
Kevin quickly made a decision. "Let's set aside the Oscar submission for now. Our main focus should be increasing American Sniper's publicity to maximize its box office revenue."
With its current trajectory, the film's distribution and promotional expenses were already covered. The higher the box office earnings, the greater Warner Bros.' share of the profits.
Low-risk, high-reward partnerships like this were Hollywood's favorite kind.
By Sunday, updated box office numbers confirmed American Sniper's remarkable performance.
On Saturday, the film earned an additional $45.2 million, pushing its two-day North American total past $100 million.
Even more impressively, the Saturday box office showed a slight increase compared to Friday—a rarity for films with such strong opening days.
With its sustained momentum, American Sniper's screen count and showtimes were further increased starting Sunday.
Everyone now realized that this film was destined to set new records for the war movie genre.
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