'The Interview' collects $1 million on first day in theaters

LOS ANGELES — Sony Pictures’ controversial comedy “The Interview” began its atypical release with about $1 million in ticket sales from 331 theaters on Christmas Day, the studio estimated.

The film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, was also made available through video-on-demand platforms starting Wednesday. The studio released the movie through YouTube Movies, Google Play, Xbox Video and its own stand-alone site for digital rentals and purchases.

Sales figures for the on-demand video market were not available.

Some theaters across the country hosted sold-out showings as many moviegoers trekked to the cinemas out of a sense of patriotism and support for free speech after the movie’s rocky ride to its release date, while some went mostly for the comedy.

“The Interview” was originally intended as a broad, wide-release Hollywood comedy on more than 3,000 screens. But the studio on Dec. 17 scuttled those plans after hackers threatened violence against movie theaters and most exhibitors declined to screen the film.

It likely would have grossed $20 million to $25 million in its opening weekend, had the fallout from last month’s cyberattack against Sony Pictures not changed its plans.

The film depicts a fictional assassination attempt against Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, which is suspected of having orchestrated the cyberattack.

After pressure mounted from independent theater owners, free speech advocates and even the White House, the studio agreed to let cinemas show “The Interview.”