Apple had initially refused Sony’s offer of hosting the controversial movie on iTunes. However, after waiting for a long time the company has finally decided to include The Interview to its iTunes store. Other streaming sites such as YouTube, Google Play and Xbox Videos as well as Sony’s own site made the movie available on Boxing Day, parallel to its cinema release. The movie came on Apple’s iTunes yesterday and the appearance was live tweeted by celebrities like Seth Rogen and James Frenco.
According to Sony Pictures, The Interview has made more than $15 million in online sales and in theaters the movie made $2.8 million. According to different reports the movie has been purchased or rented online more than 2 million times. This made The Interview Sony Picture’s No. 1 online movie till date. It is being speculated that the cyberattack controversy attached with the movie played a huge role in its publicity and became a reason for the movie’s huge success.
Apple’s decision of uploading the movie on iTunes store will add to the movie’s earning numbers. As per some reports the company initially showed no interest in the movie when it was approached by Sony. It is being said that Apple did not want to release it on Sony’s speed.
An Apple spokesperson affirmed the news by stating that the company is pleased to offer The Interview for rental or purchase on the iTunes Store. Apple’s statement was far more indifferent and impersonal than the statements released by other streaming sites like Google and Microsoft. Due to the cyberattack controversy the companies probably thought of elaborating their releasing statements. Apple on the other hand kept it short and simple without showing any ‘heart felt’ support for Sony and its ‘bravery’ in releasing the movie.
According to Google’s statement made in its blog regarding the release, Sony and Google agreed that they could not sit on the sidelines and let a handful of people decide the limits of free speech in other countries, regardless of how silly the content is. Microsoft general counsel also came up with a similar statement in its post. It declared that it would allow the movie on Xbox Video. The company’s spokesperson Brad Smith wrote that they are supporting the constitutional right of free expression. He also said that by working together they are hoping to deter other attacks from taking place.
Earlier on, prior to the release of the movie, North Korean Government had threatened to retaliate if the movie got released; the main reason was the movie’s storyline in which the actors ask the U.S Government to assassinate the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The movie which is said to be a comedy obviously hurt the sentiments of Kim Jong-un who didn’t take the comedy in good humor. However, despite the retaliation from the North Korean Government the movie was released and is doing extremely well. The Interview’s popularity is evident from its online availability and now Apple is also set to reap profits from it.