I find it disturbing that a few unsubstantiated threats can cause a whole industry to grind to a halt. In other words, Sony should NOT have pulled the movie from the theaters. That said, I think the best thing Sony could now do is to release the movie for free on the internet. It's clear that North Korea was behind the hack (almost certainly with Chinese help), and the best way to "punish" North Korea is to make the movie as widely available as possible.

All the major theater chains had pulled out of showing the movie already, so Sony had little to gain by releasing it.  Whether that's a legitimate excuse or not, people shouldn't forget that the theater chains are just as guilty of caving in.

The previews for the movie looked awful, with the reviews from the press saying pretty much the same.

Yes, the major chains had pulled out, or most of them. Nevertheless, the publicity alone would have have driven high sales, or so I think. Maybe I'm mistaken, but we'll never know now. As for the movie being "awful", that most likely is true. Nevertheless, many people would have seen it just to "shove it" in North Korea's face, or at least that's the vibe I've been getting from listening to NPR. Regardless, caving in to terrorist's demands is never the right thing.

"author Paul Coelho has offered to buy the rights to The Interview, and host it on his blog, allowing anyone who’d like to see it to view it for free"

https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor … 05398.html

If the film was released and someone made good on those threats, we'd all be talking about how a movie studio had the audacity to put box office profits ahead of human lives despite being given clear warning. I can't blame anyone for erring on the side of caution. That said, I root for a delayed release or online distribution once the culprits are found, even though I too have no personal interest in the film.

The FBI released a statement saying the culprits are North Korea. If a movie theater was bombed I would imagine we would bomb North Korea... maybe. At any rate, I don't think you can live under fear. I do see your point, and it has been raised up in numerous conversations, but many people agree that it's a bluff. Furthermore, you now set a dangerous precedence.

"Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/1 … 44232.html

If Hollywood stops making RomComs I have no reason to live.

Maybe it was a bluff, but I personally wouldn't risk it over a movie. As for precedent, I'm not really concerned. If I relented to a threat, would you necessarily follow suit under the same circumstances? It doesn't sound like it. Sony's decision doesn't establish a protocol that all others must follow.

In any event, even if the movie hits the torrents, I suspect it will eventually be released once this is resolved. I also suspect that, despite the high level of piracy the movie might enjoy, it'll still sell a lot of tickets. "I watched" stickers should be distributed with the stubs.

While the threat of a real terrorist attack on the theaters was low or non-existent, the threat of the hackers releasing more damaging information they had stolen from Sony was pretty much a guarantee.  Paramount forbidding theaters from screening Team America as an alternative is beyond paranoia.

it's just too bad it wasn't the kirk cameron movie instead

I think WW3 started by schlocky Seth Rogen movie would make a great movie

Well... Seth Rogen movies are a sign of the apocalypse...