After major theater chains pulled out from showing "The Interview" in the face of terrorist threats, Sony Pictures had to scramble to pull together an emergency digital release for the R-rated comedy.
The publicity surrounding the cancellation has helped "The Interview" find an audience online and on-demand. The studio reports that the film has generated over $40 million in rentals and sales from Wednesday, December 24, 2014 through Sunday, January 18, 2015. In addition, "The Interview" has been rented or purchased online and through cable, satellite, and telecom providers more than 5.8 million times.
Despite those impressive figures, it's not clear if the film will be profitable. It cost roughly $75 million to produce and market, according to knowledgeable insiders, and theatrical ticket sales have been minuscule. The film has made roughly $6 million domestically.
The film about a hapless TV host tasked with assassinating Kim Jong-un was originally intended to be released on roughly 3,000 screens on Christmas Day. However, the subject matter allegedly inspired a cyber-attack from North Korea that brought Sony to its knees. After hackers evoked 9/11 and threatened violence, a theatrical release was briefly scuttled.
After Sony announced it was changing course and releasing the film on digital platforms, major theater chains refused to screen it. That left a few hundred arthouse and independent theaters who were willing to exhibit the picture.
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