‘The Interview’ opens to sellout crowds

The Interview, the Sony Pictures film about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, opened in more than 300 cinemas across the US on Christmas Day, drawing many sellout audiences and statements by patrons that they were championing freedom of expression.

Co-directors Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, who also co-stars in the low-brow comedy with James Franco, surprised filmgoers by appearing at the sold-out 12.30am screening at a cinema in Los Angeles, where they briefly thanked fans for their support.

Sony Pictures this week backtracked from its original decision to cancel the release of the $44m (€36m) film after major US cinema chains pulled out because of threats of violence by Guardians of Peace, a computer hacking group that claimed responsibility for a destructive cyberattack on Sony last month. The US blamed the attacks on North Korea.