American Sniper becomes highest-grossing film release of 2014 in US

American Sniper has become the highest-grossing film release of 2014 in the US after beating The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper as Navy Seal Chris Kyle, American Sniper has taken $337.2 million since its limited release in December 2014.

The latest movie in The Hunger Games franchise has taken $336.8 million.

Set during the Iraq war, American Sniper is Clint Eastwood’s most successful film to date.

American Sniper had a limited release in US cinemas on December 25, to make it eligible for this year’s Oscars. A wider release followed in January.

According to Variety, it is the first time since 1998’s Saving Private Ryan that a “realistic”, R-rated drama has secured the largest box office takings of the year in the US.

American Sniper was nominated for six Oscars, including best picture and best actor for Bradley Cooper, but only won in the sound editing category.

Despite its popularity with US cinemagoers, American Sniper attracted criticism for both its depiction of the Iraq war and of sniper Chris Kyle, upon whose book the film is based.

Globally, Transformers: Age of Extinction is still the biggest film of 2014 having taking $1.1 billion in foreign markets, compared to American Sniper‘s $140 million.