Chris Kyle's widow, Taya, has actively supported the film after her husband was killed in Texas in 2013, when the project, based on the retired crack shot's book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, was still in development.

American Sniper, which picked up six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, has set box office records with worldwide takings of over $535 million (£334 million) since late 2014, but Kyle's dad, Wayne, has made it clear he does not share Taya's praise of the movie.

Wayne Kyle tells U.S. breakfast show Today his main issue is with the portrayal of Chris' brother Jeff, played by Keir O'Donnell, stating, "It's an absolute disgrace. They portrayed Jeff as a weak, almost cowardly marine, just wanting to get out of (the) country in any way possible, and that couldn't be further from the truth from the way Jeff was, is..."

Kyle Sr., who acknowledges that the film highlighted the need for better care for war veterans, also uses the interview to attack critics of Chris' shooting skills, after celebrities like Michael Moore branded military snipers "cowards", declaring those who take out the enemy from hidden posts "aren't heroes".

Chris Kyle's father claims he paid no attention to the controversial comments, which hit headlines upon American Sniper's U.S. release in December (14).

He says, "I basically ignored it because I know it's not true. To me, those people (critics), they have no self-worth, they can't accomplish anything on their own, so their only claim to fame is to try to destroy somebody who has the values that people like what Chris possessed (sic)."

Chris Kyle, who served in Iraq from 2003 until 2009, was shot dead in early 2013 as he and his pal Chad Littlefield attempted to befriend a fellow veteran at a shooting range in Texas. Eddie Ray Routh was convicted of capital murder in February (15) and sentenced to life in prison.