'American Sniper' has demolished all January records and has even outgunned the enormous box office opening for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.

The film, based on America's most lethal sniper Chris Kyle, has nearly doubled what forecasts had predicted for the MLK weekend. Projections put the film at $105 million for the 4 days, making this Clint Eastwood's biggest hit ever.

Following the success of the autobiography, the film's adaptation was met with high praise, garnering over 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. 'American Sniper' is also nominated for several Oscars which has boosted box office takings and could lead to a ratings increase for the telecast on ABC.

To put things into perspective, last year's biggest film was 'Guardians of the Galaxy', and earned $94 million in its debut which was a record for an August release.

American Sniper trailer

Could this year's box office be about to experience a huge rebound? 'American Sniper' is nominated for 'Best Film' at this year's Oscars.