WASHINGTON
The controversial comedy movie "The Interview" hit theaters across the U.S. Thursday with tickets already sold out for the entire week in some major cities.
"Tickets were sold out only after two hours we announced the movie" said Josh Levin, general manager of Washington’s West End Cinema. "I have been running this theater for five years but it is the first time I experienced such a thing." he added.
The movie was released nationwide at about 300 independently-owned theaters across the U.S. a day after Sony Pictures Entertainment reversed an earlier decision and decided to release the film on the Internet on Wedneday, including on YouTube.
Some moviegoers agree “The Interview” is not a "a masterpiece" but it appears political and social discussions surrounding it may have turned out to be a boon for the film.
“It is very patriotic film,” said 27-year-old Katie Fisher who added, “I don’t think it is a great movie but, with the discussion we gone through over the week, I was very motivated to see it in the theater.”
Others, however, argued a more sensitive approach. "If a North Korea or some other country will make a movie and they will kill the U.S. president in the movie, I wonder how American people would react," said Christopher Blakeslee who is in his early 60s. "Movies give messages, and we have to care about what other people feel about the message that we are giving," he added.
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s decided to cancel the Christmas Day premier of the movie after hackers, known as the Guardians of Peace, conducted a massive cyber attack against the company and then threatened 9/11-style attacks on theaters showing the film.
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