‘The Interview’ Tops $1 Million in Historic Debut as Moviegoers Hail Free Speech

Sony’s Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy about North Korea opens strongly in 300 theaters after major chains opt out to protest same-day digital release

Sony Pictures

Take that, Kim Jong-un!

“The Interview,” the R-rated comedy at the center of the Sony Pictures hacking scandal, topped $1 million in its limited Christmas Day opening at the box office, the studio reported Friday.

Seth Rogen and James Franco’s film about an assassination attempt on the North Korean leader rolled out Thursday amid heightened security and under an intense media spotlight in roughly 300 small and independent theaters across the nation. Sellouts were reported at a number of locations, with many attendees saying that they were rallying behind the film out of patriotism and to strike a blow for creative expression.

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