American Sniper continues to dominate US box office

In American Sniper Bradley Cooper plays real life Navy Seal Chris Kyle

American Sniper has continued to dominate the US box office for a second week with takings of $64.4m (£42.8m), according to studio estimates.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the drama is up for six Oscars including best film and best actor for Bradley Cooper.

Recounting the story of real life Navy Seal Chris Kyle, it has now made a total of $200.1m (£133.2m).

"We've never quite seen anything like this at this time of year," said box office expert Paul Dergarabedian.

"American Sniper is helping to propel the box office, which is already 9.3 percent ahead of the same time last year."

The film has also dominated headlines. In the past few days it has been blamed for an increase in threats against Muslims in the US, according to an Arab-American civil rights group.

Depp flops

While American Sniper is breaking records at the top of the US box office, at the other end of the scale Johnny Depp's comedy heist film Mortdecai debuted in ninth place, taking only $4.1m (£2.7) in ticket sales.

It is the star's third consecutive box office flop in a leading role, after 2014's Transcendence and 2013's The Lone Ranger.

Jennifer Lopez fared better, taking second place in this week's chart with the Boy Next Door, in which she stars as a teacher who has an affair with a younger man.

British film Paddington stayed steady in third place in its second week of release, taking $12.4m (£8.25m).