Curtain’s up on questionable Interview
AMID a swell of controversy, backlash, confusion and threats, Sony Pictures broadly released The Interview online yesterday – an unprecedented counterstroke against the hackers who spoiled the Christmas release of the comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
‘‘It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release this film,’’ said Sony Pictures chair and chief executive Michael Lynton. ‘‘We chose the path of digital distribution first so as to reach as many people as possible on opening day, and we continue to seek other partners and platforms to further expand the release.’’
The Interview became available for rental on a variety of digital platforms yesterday, including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and a separate Sony website. The wide digital release is the culmination of deals that have been in the works since the major theatre chains dropped the movie last week.
On demand availability means easier access for viewers – and may further erode the studio’s symbiotic relationship with theatres. A day earlier, Sony and independent theatres agreed to release the movie in more than 300 venues today. The three largest theatre chains have been largely silent since deciding not to show the film, which was originally set to open on up to 3000 screens.
Seth Rogen, who stars in the film he co-directed with Evan Goldberg, cheered the decision.
‘‘I need to say that a comedy is best viewed in a theatre full of people, so if you can, I’d watch it like that. Or call some friends over,’’ he tweeted.
A Sony executive close to the matter said there was concern over whether they would be able to recoup the US$40 million (NZ$52m) cost of the film and the millions more spent on marketing, but affordability and wide access were their main priorities. The executive also said more providers could sign on in the coming days and weeks, and the option remained for more theatres to show the film down the line.
Sony’s initial decision not to release the film was widely criticised, with President Barack Obama one of Sony’s harshest critics.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Obama welcomed the news.
‘‘As the president made clear on Friday, we do not live in a country where a foreign dictator can start imposing censorship here in the United States. With today’s announcements, people can now make their own choices about the film, and that’s how it should be,’’ Schultz said.
The move to make the film available for rental and purchase before its theatrical release had never before been done with a mainstream film. Studios have released smaller indie and foreign movies simultaneously in theatres and on digital platforms, but analysts said the situation with The Interview left Sony little choice.
‘‘This isn’t being done because Sony wants to do it regularly, but rather out of necessity prompted by the exhibitor boycott,’’ Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said.
‘‘Sony is in a delicate situation here since they normally never go this route with a major film, but theatre chains also know this is a unique back-against-the-wall situation,’’ added Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com.
While Pandya said interest would likely wane in January, for now the curiosity and enthusiasm was still palpable. Tyler Pulsifer, manager of the Hartford Spotlight Theatres in Hartford, Connecticut, said he had received 32 calls from people interested in seeing The Interview during the first 90 minutes the theatre was open on Christmas Eve.