Hackers threatened to attack movie theaters where the film would be screened, claiming it would resemble a “9/11” style of attack. Prior to this, the hackers also infiltrated Sony’s personal employee information and leaked it to the public in what may be history's most damaging — and costliest — cyber attack on a U.S. business.
Following the cancellation of the film's scheduled NYC premiere, four other cinema chains in the U.S. and one in Canada indicated they would not screen the movie.
"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film 'The Interview,' we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release," Sony said in a statement. "We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers."
Sony said it does not have further plans to release the film.
Many within the Hollywood elite made their feelings on the decision known via social media. Several agreed that hackers should not be able to dictate what’s featured in American cinemas. They criticized the film industry for succumbing to outside pressure.
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) December 18, 2014
Filmmaker Michael Moore labeled the cancellation a "cave."
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 18, 2014
Actor Rob Lowe also compared the cancellation of "The Interview" to British Prime Minister Neville Chamerlain's appeasement to Hitler in World War II.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 17, 2014
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
The rationale for cancelling Sony’s premiere of “The Interview” has received mixed reviews, but it’s certainly not the only movie to be pulled.
Several films that featured airplanes in the main story lines were put on hold in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. A silent film known as “The Spirit of ‘76” that depicted fictional and factual events during the American Revolution was also pulled in the wake of the US entering WWI.
MGM decided to restructure a new “villain” or “aggressor” for the 2012 remake of the 1984 Cold War film “Red Dawn.” Instead of the Soviet Union, producers substituted China. But the film was once again restructured to portray the aggressor as North Korea instead of China, after China became one of Hollywood's most essential foreign movie markets.
