Seth Rogen Shoots Down American Sniper

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.

Critics say the movie glorifies war and fails to address the failures of American's Iraq campaign, 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.

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."

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, who plays a Navy Seal sharpshooter.