Sony Pictures reported on Friday that “The Interview” raked a whooping $1 million at the box office after it began screening on Christmas Day, with a possibility of making a few more millions throughout the holiday season and this excludes additional sales that will be made online from rentals and purchases of the movie through other online platforms.
The Interview, a satirical and highly-controversial comedy about a plot by the C.I.A. to assassinate the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, began showing at about 300 independent theaters in the United States on Christmas day following its online release on Christmas eve. According to report, “The Interview” was only released in 10 percent of the total number of theaters than originally planned to show the film.
Considering that Sony Pictures had initially decided to cancel the release of the movie, it was reported that many of the theaters that showed the movie reported sold-out screenings. Co-directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen also made appearances at theaters in Los Angeles to thank the viewers for their unending support.
“Considering the incredibly challenging circumstances, we are extremely grateful to the people all over the country who came out to experience ‘The Interview’ on the first day of its unconventional release,” Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of worldwide distribution, said in a statement.
The Interview was almost not going to make it to Theaters based on terror threats received by Sony from the Guardians of Peace, the hackers behind Sony’s recent cyber attacks which led to Sony’s initial decision to cancel the release, however, that decision was soon reversed after the company received high levels of criticisms from the United States President Barrack Obama and several Hollywood celebrities. A number of Independent theaters also showed their support by providing a platform for the movie to be screened and Sony also made the film available through Video on Demand platforms such as YouTube, Google Play and Microsoft XBox.
Check out the trailer of ‘The Interview’!
Photo Credit: Columbia, AP
