American Sniper topped the US box office over the weekend with a record-smashing $90m, but Hollywood is split over Clint Eastwood's war drama. 
 
 Seth Rogen likened it to Nazi propaganda and Michael Moore called snipers "cowards", while Jane Fonda praised it. 
 
 The Oscar-nominated American Sniper is the story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal marksman in US military history. He is played by Bradley Cooper. 
 
 Seth Rogen starred in The Interview, which angered North Korea 
 
 Critics say the movie glorifies war and fails to address the failures of America's campaign in Iraq, while supporters see it as an honest examination of the toll the fighting takes on veterans. 
 
 "American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglourious Basterds," tweeted Rogen. 
 
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 The actor, who drew his share of controversy with The Interview about a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader, was referring to a fake Nazi propaganda movie seen in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. 
 
 Moore, the documentary-maker best known for Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, tweeted: "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse." 
 
 Rob Lowe wondered in a tweet: "He's kidding, right?" 
 
 Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, tweeted: "Michael Moore should spend a few weeks with ISIS and Boko Haram. Then he might appreciate @AmericanSniper. I am proud of our defenders." 
 
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 Fonda said the movie was "powerful" and wrote: "Bravo Clint Eastwood." 
 
 With its $90m (£59m) takings, American Sniper broke the record for a January weekend as well as for any drama opening ever. 
 
 It virtually doubled industry expectations after expanding to some 3,500 screens from just a handful of movie theatres the day after scoring six Oscar nominations, including best actor for Cooper. ||||| While audiences across America united to give "American Sniper" the biggest ever opening weekend for a movie in January, the Clint Eastwood film has some in Hollywood at odds. 
 
 The war drama, which grossed over $100 million over the weekend and received six Oscar nominations, is based on the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle who served four tours in Iraq and was called the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. 
 
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 While Kyle's actions earned him multiple commendations of valor for his service in the military, one Hollywood documentary-maker was not impressed. 
 
 "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse," "Farenheit 9/11" creator Michael Moore tweeted Sunday. 
 
 Actor Rob Lowe fired back at Moore's comments. 
 
 Moore later took to social media to walk back his original post, arguing his tweets were not about Chris Kyle or "American Sniper," but instead only about his uncle's death. 
 
 Hmm. I never tweeted 1word bout AmericanSniper/ChrisKyle. I said my uncle killed by sniper in WWII; only cowards would do that 2 him, others — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015 
 
 But Moore wasn't the only Hollywood type who seemed to snub the film. "The Interview" star Seth Rogen also took to Twitter to criticize "Sniper" for what he seemed to characterize as a pro-war stance. He compared the Bradley Cooper-starring movie to a scene in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" where a German sniper "heroically" killed more than 200 Allied soldiers. 
 
 American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015 
 
 Eastwood's film also got support from what may seem an odd source, the Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda, whose appeararonce in Western Maryland Friday drew protests from veterans for her Vietnam visit in the 1970s. Fonda tweeted her support for the movie. 
 
 Just saw "American Sniper" Powerful. Another view of "Coming Home." Bradley Cooper sensational. Bravo Clint Eastwood. http://t.co/l94zY5Gh8Q — Jane Seymour Fonda (@Janefonda) December 21, 2014 
 
 "American Sniper" star Bradley Cooper told FOX News "it became quite a responsibility to tell the story" after Kyle was killed last year at a shooting range in Texas. He also said he hopes the film will provide insight into the lives of soldiers and their families. 
 
 "It was a keyhole into that life," Cooper said. "One thing that we were able to do was explore this man's life and this woman's life and their children and their family and in doing so hopefully get just a nugget, a kernel of truth, that people who actually have gone through it and are going through it can relate to it and not feel alone." 
 
 Warner Bros., who distributed the movie, had no comment on the matter. 
 
 WATCH: Academy Award nomination snubs and surprises ||||| CLOSE While 'American Sniper' has been a hit with audiences, its subject matter is causing controversy among some in Hollywood for its perceived pro-war message. VPC 
 
 Seth Rogen (Photo: Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images) 
 
 Clint Eastwood's American Sniper is continuing to make waves across Hollywood. 
 
 While the film has been a hit with audiences — with a record-setting debut at the box office, and A-plus CinemaScore rating — its subject matter is causing controversy among some in Hollywood for its perceived pro-war message. 
 
 Seth Rogen, whose latest film caused its fair share of controversy, tweeted about Sniper: 
 
 American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015 
 
 Rogen is referring to the fake film that showed up in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, about a German sniper killing Allied soldiers from a clock tower, essentially comparing Eastwood's film to Nazi propaganda. 
 
 Later, Rogen clarified his tweet. 
 
 I just said something "kinda reminded" me of something else. I actually liked American Sniper. It just reminded me of the Tarantino scene. — Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015 
 
 Director Michael Moore, who famously criticized the Iraq War in his 2003 Oscar acceptance speech, also took to Twitter to express his views, calling snipers "cowards". 
 
 My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015 
 
 But if you're on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015 
 
 Director Michael Moore, shown in 2010. (Photo: Charles Eshelman, FilmMagic) 
 
 Although on Monday he claimed his tweets weren't in reference to the film, saying that he never tweeted one word about the film or Chris Kyle specifically. Moore then linked to a lengthy Facebook post where he explained why he was tweeting about snipers in the first place, and criticized the media for drawing connection to the Clint Eastwood movie: 
 
 Lots of talk about snipers this weekend (the holiday weekend of a great man, killed by a sniper), so I thought I'd weigh in with what I was raised to believe about snipers. ... But Deadline Hollwood and the Hollywood Reporter turned that into stories about how I don't like Clint Eastwood's new film, "American Sniper." I didn't say a word about "American Sniper" in my tweets. 
 
 He then went on to say quite a few words about the film: 
 
 So here's what I think about "American Sniper": Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb! Oh... and too bad Clint (Eastwood) gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis "savages" throughout the film. But there is also anti-war sentiment expressed in the movie. And there's a touching ending as the main character is remembered after being gunned down by a fellow American vet with PTSD who was given a gun at a gun range back home in Texas -- and then used it to kill the man who called himself the 'America Sniper'. 
 
 Soon after his first tweets were sent, Moore' did attract ire from big names, including Newt Gingrich and Rob Lowe: 
 
 Michael Moore should spend a few weeks with ISIS and Boko Haram. Then he might appreciate@AmericanSniper. I am proud of our defenders. — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 19, 2015 
 
 Sniper is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sharpshooter in history. The film nabbed six Oscar nominations last week, including best picture and best actor for Bradley Cooper. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1BttYRv ||||| Moore tweeted Sunday that his uncle was killed by a sniper. 
 
 Michael Moore has taken to Twitter to share his thoughts on snipers. 
 
 The Fahrenheit 9/11 director wrote that he grew up being told that snipers are cowardly. "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2," Moore wrote. "We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot you in the back." 
 
 "Snipers aren't heroes," he continued. "And invaders are worse." 
 
 Moore spoke directly about director Clint Eastwood's film American Sniper on his Facebook page. He praised the film for star Bradley Cooper's performance and for its antiwar sentiment, but he also wrote: "Too bad Clint gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis 'savages' throughout the film." 
 
 His comments come on the same weekend that the film earned $105.2 million over four days, marking the biggest opening haul ever for a nontentpole film. It landed six Oscar nominations Thursday, including best picture and best actor for Cooper. 
 
 American Sniper centers on real-life Iraq War soldier Chris Kyle, who tried to balance his career as the most prolific U.S. sniper with his family life. 
 
 Moore's tweets can be seen below. 
 
 My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015 
 
 But if you're on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who've come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor. — Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015 
 
 Jan. 18, 6:20 p.m. Updated to clarify that Moore had not mentioned American Sniper in his tweets. THR regrets the error. 
 
 Email: Ryan.Gajewski@pgmedia.org 
 
 Twitter: @_RyanGajewski ||||| When Gaith Mohammed, a young man in his twenties with a degree in accounting, went to see "American Sniper" during its opening week at Baghdad’s Mansour Mall, he says the theater was full and rowdy. 
 
 “Some people watching were just concentrating, but others were screaming ‘F*ck, shoot him! He has an IED, don’t wait for permission!!’” Mohammed laughed, recounting the film’s many tense scenes when US Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, radios in for authorization to take out a potential threat in his crosshairs. 
 
 The film, set during the US-led occupation of Iraq and released on Christmas Day, hit nerves in the United States immediately. Some critics and commentators lauded it as patriotic and unflinching; others dismissed it as reductionist and racist. 
 
 Many people also objected to the film's portrayal of Kyle — a man who described Iraqis as "savages" in his memoir — as a hero. 
 
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 Directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie is based on a book by the late Kyle, now known ubiquitously as the most lethal sniper in US military history. It has proven to be a blockbuster, breaking records and topping box office sales since its wide release on Jan. 16 and racking up Oscar nominations, including one for best picture. 
 
 It’s been stirring controversy in Iraq, too. 
 
 In Baghdad, where much of the film is set, the movie drew full crowds at one of the city’s new upscale cinemas. Dressed in a fur-collared coat and loafers, Mohammed says many of the showings were sold out, and he knows of people who had to book their tickets a day in advance during opening week. 
 
 But after just a week on screens, the Mansour Mall theater pulled the controversial war movie. A theater employee sitting at the box office says management made the decision “because the hero of this film boasts of killing more than 160 Muslims.” The employee declined to give his name because he did not have permission to speak to journalists. 
 
 Mansour Mall attracts a largely upscale crowd in Baghdad. Behind tall gates and multiple layers of security complete with metal detectors and X-ray belts, the theaters here show a mix of Western and Arab films. Moviegoers interviewed at the mall say big budget action movies are usually the most popular, but romantic comedies and family dramas also do well. 
 
 Mohammed says one of the film’s opening scenes, when Kyle spots a woman and child who appear to be preparing to attack US troops during the initial invasion of Iraq, had the entire audience on the edge of their seats. 
 
 “When the sniper was hesitating to shoot [the child holding the RPG] everyone was yelling ‘Just shoot him!’” he said. 
 
 It's the same scene featured in the official trailer for the film: 
 
 Mohammed, who lived through the events in Baghdad the film depicts, admits that scenes where women and children were killed were hard for him to watch. But all in all he liked the movie. 
 
 “I love watching war movies because especially now they give me the strength to face ISIS,” he said, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State. When asked if he thought the movie was racist or anti-Arab — a charge made by some critics in the West — he replied, “No, why? The sniper was killing terrorists, the only thing that bothered me was when he said he didn’t know anything about the Quran!” 
 
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 But not all Iraqis were cheering on "Chief" Kyle’s kills. Wael, a government ministry employee in his thirties, says the film was too violent. He’s happy it’s no longer being shown in some Baghdad theaters. 
 
 “To some extent, I considered it against all Muslims,” he said. He also referred to the opening scene in Fallujah where a woman and child are killed. 
 
 “The sniper, he has a chance to hit the child and his mother in their foot or anywhere without killing them, but he didn’t because he’s bloodthirsty like all the American troops.” 
 
 Wael, who asked to only be referred to by his first name because he fears for his security, says he still watched the movie three times: twice at the cinema and again at his friend’s house. 
 
 Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Al-Daradji says he sees the mixed feeling Iraqis have toward war movies in the reception of his own films, including “Son of Babylon,” which showed at Sundance in 2010 and told the story of a young boy and his grandmother searching for his father who never returned from the 1991 Gulf war. 
 
 Daradji says even his own family sometimes complains about the subject mater of the movies he makes. “They say, we’ve had enough of war and wartime, can you not make any love stories?” 
 
 But Daradji says audiences respond emotionally to war movies because conflict plays such a big part in day to day Iraqi life. In just the last week bombings in the Iraqi capital have killed more than 20 people, including at least 13 dead in a single day. 
 
 “When Iraqis see a film [about war] they’ll be engaged in it because they feel part of them is there.” 
 
 Daradji hasn’t seen "American Sniper" yet, but he says he isn’t surprised that the movie is being criticized for inaccurately depicting Iraq. 
 
 “There is no American films [about Iraq] — and I saw a lot of them — that have given justice to the Iraqi people and the events that happened in Iraq,” he said. “I sort of understand why not, because when an American filmmaker and an American company make a film they think about it from the American point of view, they don’t care about Iraq, they care about themselves.” 
 
 “That’s why we Iraqi filmmakers have to make films about Iraqi people,” he added. 
 
 The Iraqi film scene is small compared to its Middle Eastern neighbors, but it’s growing. Daradji and his brother run the Iraqi Independent Film Center, a production house aimed at training the next generation in Iraqi filmmaking and bringing filmmakers who fled under Saddam Hussein's rule back to Iraq. 
 
 At the Mansour Mall foodcourt outside the theater, Omar Jalal, a university student, says he’s upset "American Sniper" is no longer being shown. 
 
 Even though he saw it on the big screen already, Jalal says he was hoping to bring his family back to see the movie again. Instead, they’ll just watch it at home, he says, holding up a pirated DVD in a thin plastic sleeve that he bought from a shop a few doors down. Most of his other friends have already downloaded it illegally. 
 
 Jalal says the movie doesn’t strike him as racist or anti-Arab. He says he finds the main character appealing regardless of the fact that he’s an American soldier killing Iraqis during the US-led occupation of his home country. 
 
 “He was a hero and he went through difficult training,” Jalal explained, saying Chris Kyle was just serving his country, a universal duty for all men. “Besides,” he shrugged, “it’s just a movie, and I like war movies. If they are true or not, whatever!” 
 
 This story was reported by Susannah George in Beirut and a journalist in Baghdad. 
 
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– American Sniper didn't just set a box-office record this weekend. It also triggered debate among Hollywood honchos apparently offended by the flick—who then said they really weren't, USA Today reports. Seth Rogen, for one, tweeted yesterday that the film "kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds," a reference to Nazi propaganda of a German sniper shooting Allied soldiers. But Rogen today tweeted, "I just said something 'kinda reminded' me of something else. I actually liked American Sniper." Enter Michael Moore, who posted: "My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse" That inspired tweets from Newt Gingrich ("Michael Moore should spend a few weeks with ISIS and Boko Haram") and Rob Lowe ("He's kidding, right?"). So Moore wrote a Facebook post in which he blamed Deadline Hollywood and the Hollywood Reporter for making it seem like "I don't like" the film. He goes on to laud Bradley Cooper, the costumes, hair, makeup, and editing, but adds: "Oh... and too bad Clint [Eastwood] gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis 'savages' throughout the film." Fox News reports on an "odd source" of American Sniper support—Jane Fonda—who tweets: "Powerful. Another view of 'Coming Home.' Bradley Cooper sensational. Bravo Clint Eastwood." (See how many calories Cooper ate per day to play the part of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.)