American Sniper‘s Oscar nominations spread across six categories.

While the film was immensely popular with moviegoers, earning over $400 million at the box office, it didn’t go so well on Sunday night for American Sniper.

American Sniper‘s Oscar game was just off. The movie grossed way more than Sunday’s best picture winner, Birdman, but the academy didn’t agree with American Sniper‘s millions of fans.

The unusual thing about American Sniper at the Oscars was that the trial for the man who killed Chris Kyle was underway at the same time that the movie, based on Chris Kyle’s book, was being celebrated in Hollywood last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ValI7EO44

Because of that, there was concern that jurors in the trial of Eddie Ray Routh might be swayed by American Sniper‘s possible wins at the Oscars. The jurors were instructed to avoid media coverage of the trial, but were not banned from watching the Oscars on Sunday night.

However, jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius didn’t think it would be too big of a deal, even if American Sniper had won big.

She said, “When this jury goes into this jury room to begin their deliberations, I believe the most powerful evidence will be … from the testimony of the witnesses in the case.”

She added, “That testimony is more powerful than anything you could see in a movie, anything that you could read in a newspaper, or anything that you could hear from a friend or colleague.”

Of the jurors, she said she has full confidence in their abilities, saying, “Even if this movie wins six Academy Awards, that jury is going to do their civil duty by taking into consideration solely the evidence and the witnesses that they heard in the courtroom.”

What do you think? Do you think the jury could be swayed by watching American Sniper or seeing it win at the Oscars?