( CNN ) Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore pronounced that `` snipers are n't heroes '' in a tweet on Sunday as `` American Sniper , '' the Oscar-nominated biopic of a former Navy SEAL and sharpshooter , won the weekend box office . The `` Fahrenheit 9/11 '' and `` Bowling for Columbine '' director later expanded on his remarks , saying : `` 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 . '' Moore has long been a staunch advocate for stricter gun control laws in the U.S. , and his statements are known to court controversy . His latest comments quickly prompted backlash . Former U.S. House speaker and CNN contributor Newt Gingrich invited Moore to spend some time with terrorist cells overseas , then weigh in on the value of snipers . The movie , starring Bradley Cooper and directed by Clint Eastwood , earned $ 105 million in weekend ticket sales and nabbed six Academy Award nominations last week , including best picture . The box office take trumped previous records for a January opening and is expected to grow on Monday as moviegoers enjoy another day off for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend . Moore is n't the only one in Hollywood taking aim at the film : Actor Seth Rogen equated the war drama to a Nazi propaganda film shown in Quentin Tarantino 's `` Inglourious Basterds . '' `` American Sniper '' is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Chris Kyle . Kyle served four tours in Iraq with the Navy SEALs and is lauded as `` America 's deadliest sniper . '' He was not without controversy of his own , including disputed claims in his book that he punched former Minnesota Gov . Jesse Ventura and killed two armed carjackers . Kyle was shot and killed by a former Marine in 2013 .
Filmmaker Michael Moore tweets he was taught snipers were `` cowards '' Moore 's statement comes the same weekend `` American Sniper '' broke box office records . `` American Sniper '' earned six Oscar nominations , including best picture .