Watch 'The Interview' From Your Couch; Controversial Movie Released Online

By Jason Koestenblatt (Patch Staff) and David Gurlacci

Starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, Sony Pictures said it would make ”The Interview” available to rent or buy from various online websites, according to several reports.

CNN reports that the unprecedented online release of the much-anticipated comedy film about a fictitious television personality interviewing the leader of North Korea and trying to kill him comes a day before its first-run showing in about 300 theaters across the country. Six New Jersey theaters will show it on Christmas Day, despite a backlash that roiled a country and has led to international tension.

“The Interview,” starring Seth Rogen and James Franco through Sony Pictures, was originally scheduled for release on Dec. 25, but was then pulled back after a hacking scandal infiltrated the production company’s computer system.

The situation escalated from there, as the hackers – believed to hail from North Korea – began sending threats of terrorism that any theater showing the film would be targeted with potential violence.

According to CNN, the movie may be available Wednesday on YouTube, Google Play, the Microsoft Xbox video game console and a special Web site, SeeTheInterview.com.

The movie’s Facebook page stated in its most recent post, “Freedom of speech has prevailed!”

The New Jersey theaters going forward with showing the film are, according to the Huffington Post:

Allwood Cinemas 6, Clifton

Hudson Cinema 7, Jersey City
City Plex 12 Newark, Newark
Columbia Park 12, North Bergen
Middlebrook Cinema 10, Ocean Township
Fabian 8 Cinema, Paterson
Rutgers Cinema, Piscataway (Jan. 1)

Photo Credit: Screenshot of The Interview Facebook page.

Do you think Sony should release the movie? Do you think theaters should show the film? Will you go see “The Interview”?