The Interview, Released on Christmas Despite "Challenging Circumstances," Made HOW Much at the Box Office?

"The audience reaction was fantastic," said Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures

By Corinne Heller Dec 26, 2014 5:37 PMTags
James Franco, Seth Rogen, The InterviewColumbia Pictures

Following an almost-cancellation of The Interview amid threats from hackers, the controversial, R-rated political comedy, which mocks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and depicts his assassination, made more than $1 million in one day from its limited theatrical release.

The news was announced by studio Sony Pictures, the distributor of the movie, which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco.

"Considering the incredibly challenging circumstances, we are extremely grateful to the people all over the country who came out to experience The Interview on the first day of its unconventional release," Rory Bruer, President of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures, said in a statement obtained by E! News. "The audience reaction was fantastic—the limited release, in under 10 percent of the amount of theaters originally planned, featured numerous sell-outs and a first-day gross over $1 million."

Movies and TV research company Rentrak Analytics reported that the total figure was $1,040,000 and that the average total for each of the 331 theaters that screened the movie was $3,142.


In comparison, Rogen's R-rated 2013 summer comedy movie This Is the End, made more than $7.8 million on its opening day after receiving a wide release. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, another R-rated comedy, which was released in thousands of theaters just before Christmas 2013, and made more than $8 million on its opening day.

Birdman, a dramedy starring Michael Keaton that's getting lots of award buzz and had a limited theatrical release on Oct. 18, made just over $135,000 after one day at the box office.

In a surprise move, The Interview was released on Christmas Eve and screened mostly in small theaters, such as one in Santa Fe, New Mexico that is owned by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, who like many celebs, denounced an initial decision by Sony not to release the film on Christmas Day as planned. In addition to its limited theatrical release, the movie was also posted online as a $5.99 paid download.

The Interview was originally supposed to be shown in thousands of cinemas, but five major chains refused to screen it after hackers who oppose the film and had launched a cyber-attack against the studio released a public threat against potential moviegoers.

Rogen and co-director and co-writer Evan Goldberg made a surprise appearance at one of the theatrical screenings in Los Angeles, to the delight of the several dozen audience members. Martin appeared at his theater's screening of The Interview as well.

—Reporting by Lindsay Good