Hollywood’s hopes for a record 2015 box office have received a shot in the arm from the electrifying run of “American Sniper,” which has driven one of the biggest January hauls in history.
Going into the weekend, overall domestic box office grosses for January were at nearly $900 million, of which Warner Bros.’ Iraq War saga had contributed $213 million, a little less than a quarter of that. Only January of 2010, when James Cameron’s “Avatar” was dominating with 30 percent of $924 million, has been bigger.
The fast start has 2015 running 7.2 percent ahead of last year’s box office at a similar stage.