Sony Releases The Interview movie online

Sony releases the movie as planned for Christmas day, but this time, not in Theatres but on the Internet. Last week , we probably thought The Interview would never see the light of day. Now, you can watch the controversial movie right from the comfort of your home.Sony Pictures just confirmed that the movie — believed by some but not all to be the motivation behind the massive hack of its network earlier this month — will be available as an online rental starting today at 1 p.m. Eastern in the U.S., NBC Nightly News reported. The movie will be available to rent on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video, and the website www.seetheinterview.com for $5.99. You can also purchase the movie in HD for $14.99.

Apple, meanwhile, reportedly declined Sony's request to offer The Interview on iTunes.

"It has always been Sony's intention to have a national platform on which to release this film," Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton was quoted as saying by NBC Nightly News. "With that in mind, we reached out to Google, Microsoft, and other partners last Wednesday, Dec. 17, when it became clear our initial release plans were not possible. We are pleased we can now join with our partners to offer the film nationwide today."

He added that "it is essential for our studio to release this movie, especially given the assault upon our business and our employees by those who wanted to stop free speech." Sony is currently continuing to seek out other partners and platforms that might want to offer the movie.

"This release represents our commitment to our filmmakers and free speech," Lynton continued. "While we couldn't have predicted the road this movie traveled to get to this moment, I'm proud our fight was not for nothing and that cyber criminals were not able to silence us."

The announcement comes after Sony last week axed the release of The Interview, following pressure from hackers — believed to be acting on behalf of North Korea— who threatened 9/11-style violence on any theater that showed the movie, which depicts a plot to kill Kim Jong-un.