Skip to main content

You can watch The Interview online starting today, ahead of its Christmas premiere

The Interview is still coming to select theaters on Christmas Day, but it’s also now going to be available to stream starting today, December 24, through a variety of online services. In addition to Sony Pictures’ own website for the VOD release, seetheinterview.com, viewers will also be able to check out the movie via YouTube, Google Play, and Microsoft’s Xbox Video Store (via re/code).

The cost (on Sony’s site, at least) is $6 to rent and $15 to buy.

“It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release this film,” Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said in a statement. He noted that Sony started making alternative release plans for The Interview last Wednesday, the same day Sony canceled the release of the  comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco.

The cancellation came after the Guardians of Peace hacker group threatened action — a vague threat, but one that referenced 9/11 specifically — against any theaters that chose to screen the film, which was originally due to arrive on Christmas Day. This is the same group that claimed responsibility for the recent Sony hack that resulted in the leaking of multiple unreleased films and reams of employee data and emails.

The FBI has stated that Guardians of Peace is connected to or operating on behalf of North Korea. In The Interview, Rogen and Franco play entertainers who head to North Korea on a secret CIA mission to assassinate the nation’s leader, Kim Jong-un.

We’ve yet to hear from Sony directly with any details, but CNN’s Brian Stelter notes that the VOD offering should be available starting at 1 p.m. ET on December 24.

Topics
Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
What is Peacock? Pricing, content, and how to get it, explained
screenshot showing Peacock on Apple TV.

When it comes to choosing one of the best streaming services for entertainment, there are plenty of great options out there, and among the best is Peacock. Peacock is NBCUniversal's answer for what to watch next, and it houses thousands of hours of film and TV, with a mix of older favorites and new original programs. First released in 2020, it is aimed at competingwith Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Paramount Plus, and other streaming giants.

Peacock has made a splash since its launch, with 34 million subscribers as of 2024. Its easy to understand why, too, with competitive prices, a library with more than 80,000 hours of content, and access to tons of live sports events. There is plenty here to love, and even leaving the service is a breeze, should you so desire. However, before you decide whether to subscribe to Peacock, we're here to help you evaluate if it's the right choice for you.
How much is Peacock?

Read more
The best shows on Max (formerly HBO Max) right now
The crew from The Franchise looking into the camera, one man with his hand outstretched.

Over the years, Max has built up a very wide selection of shows. And while series like The Last of Us aren't returning with new episodes until 2025, the recently released The Last of Us season two trailer has fans excited. In the meantime, you can check out new series like The Franchise, which might become your new favorite satirical comedy. Shows like Abbott Elementary and Somebody Somewhere are also returning this month with new seasons, so there are plenty of new shows on Max.

If you're looking for the best shows on Max right now, look no further, as we have you covered. We have carefully put together this list of the best shows to watch. Peruse the list, bookmark a few titles, and add them to your watch queue for the next month or so. Check back next month, where we'll update you with a freshly revised list of options.

Read more
The Rings of Power creators respond to controversial Dark Wizard theory
The Dark Wizard holds his staff in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2.

For all the mysteries it clears up, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 still leaves viewers with at least one major question to mull over as they await the show's return. The series' second season specifically does not reveal the identity of the mysterious villain known right now only as the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds). The character's physical appearance and seeming allegiance to Sauron (Charlie Vickers) have nonetheless led many fans to theorize that he may be Saruman, the wizard famously played in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films by the late, great Christopher Lee.

However, in a post-finale interview with Vanity Fair, The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne seemed to shoot that particular theory down. "Given the history of Middle-earth, it would be highly, highly, highly improbable that this could be Saruman," McKay said, to which Payne added, "If not impossible."

Read more