“THE Interview” took in more than US$1 million in a limited Christmas Day release, a solid showing that could be quickly eclipsed by the money Sony Pictures makes with its online debut of the raunchy comedy.

    That the farcical film — which angered North Korea and triggered a devastating cyberattack on the studio — is now a guinea pig for Hollywood’s digital future constitutes another bizarre twist in the monthlong Sony Pictures saga.

    After large movie theater chains refused to screen the comedy following threats of violence from hackers who opposed the film, Sony stitched together a limited release in 331 mostly independent theaters and a US$5.99 video-on-demand (VOD) rental option on YouTube, Google Play and other sites.

    “I’d be surprised if this wasn’t one of the biggest VOD events ever,” said Jeff Bock, a box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations, who thinks Sony could have charged more.

    Until Sony discloses the online revenues, it is hard to know if the studio will come anywhere near recouping the US$44 million it cost to make the film, plus the US$30-40 million that some estimate was spent on marketing the film and its stars, Seth Rogen and James Franco.

    The theatrical release so far amounts to less than 10 percent of the cinemas that had been planned for a wide release in the United States and Canada.

    The film was expected to gross at least US$20 million over the long holiday weekend if in wide release, according to Boxoffice.com.

    Sony is looking for more partners for digital distribution, though hundreds of thousands of people have reportedly downloaded the film from pirate sites.

    The extensive press coverage could also boost the film in overseas markets, where Rogen and Franco are not yet big stars.

    The fracas forced Sony to explore more fully a territory looming on the Hollywood horizon: “day-and-date” simultaneous VOD and theatrical release. VOD deals tend to give studios a higher slice of revenue than the 50-50 split they share with U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.

    “If this does really well, obviously, the tide will keep turning towards online,” said Bock. “It could send ripples down the line in terms of how Hollywood is going to release its products.”(SD-Agencies)