The fake baby scene in American Sniper has overshadowed the movie's success, with critics and audiences focusing on the unrealistic prop rather than the powerful performances and engaging story. The film initially attempted to use real babies but encountered difficulties with sick and absent infants, leading director Clint Eastwood to use a doll as a last resort. The prop baby significantly detracts from the film, pulling audiences out of the immersive experience and making the scene feel awkward, potentially impacting the movie's chances at winning awards like Best Picture.

American Sniper is one of the most successful biopics of the 2010s, but the fake baby scene has overshadowed the movie's accolades in the years since its release. Directed by Clint Eastwood, the 2014 movie follows Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), a real-life former Navy Seal sniper with a record number of confirmed kills during his service in Iraq. American Sniper received positive reviews,...