A fictional plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un drew
throngs of moviegoers Thursday, as it became an unlikely symbol of free
speech thanks to hacker threats that nearly scuppered its release.
The
future of Sony's "The Interview" had been in doubt after the
entertainment giant said it was cancelling the release following an
embarrassing cyber attack on its corporate network and threats against
patrons.
But massive support for its release, including from the White House, saw it open in theatres in the end.
BELIEF IN FREE SPEECH
And
it was more than 300 independently owned theatres that took up the
mantle, with some moviegoers dressed in patriotic red, white and blue or
saying they were driven to see the film by their belief in free speech.
"It's
controversial so I want to see it. I think it's something important,
showing the freedom in the United States," said Adolfo Loustalot as he
queued up to buy tickets outside "Los Feliz 3" cinema in Los Angeles.
The
film was also available on a variety of digital platforms, including
Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and on a Sony
website.
Star Seth Rogen and co-director Evan Goldberg
made a surprise appearance at one of the first showings in Los Angeles
just after midnight, when they thanked moviegoers and theatres for
pushing to get the film out.
"We thought this might not
happen at all," Rogen told a cheering crowd. The theater was near Rogen
and Goldberg's homes, the men said.
"The fact that it's showing here and that you guys all came out," Goldberg said, "is super fucking exciting," Rogen finished.
Many
of the biggest US movie theatre chains had got cold feet about showing
the film after anonymous online threats, prompting Sony to pull the
film.
The United States has blamed the Sony cyber attack on North Korea, and President Barack Obama has threatened reprisals.
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