# Theater chains cancelling "The Interview" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522 "2014-12-17T21:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/41 "2014-12-18T02:23:52Z")
All of this comes at a time when the President is opening up relations with Cuba. Is he planning some serious high-school-girl level, play one against the other shit here? “Oh Cuba, I really wanted to be friends with you, but that bitch North Korea was saying the worst things about you…” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/42 "2014-12-18T03:16:46Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > If we don’t support Seth Rogen, the terrorists have already won. I’m torn. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/43 "2014-12-18T03:20:30Z")
Apparently they haven’t pulled the ads yet, I just saw one for the Christmas premier on SyFy. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/44 "2014-12-18T03:43:39Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I love all the folks willing to puff their chests out on behalf of freedom while castigating Sony. The reality is that the vast majority of their distribution network had already pulled out of showing the film…and given all the legal issues they are already struggling with right now, and the actual possibility that some whack job would take advantage of the situation to play pretend terrorist, why on earth would they release it? > To make a point? When we start looking at corporations to demonstrate “freedom from terrorist fear” for us, we have a real problem…we can’t even fucking do it ourselves. Wait a sec. Corporations are people, too. Why shouldn’t they be expected show the same bravery that we expect from every other citizen? ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/45 "2014-12-18T04:00:47Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I love all the folks willing to puff their chests out on behalf of freedom while castigating Sony. The reality is that the vast majority of their distribution network had already pulled out of showing the film…and given all the legal issues they are already struggling with right now, and the actual possibility that some whack job would take advantage of the situation to play pretend terrorist, why on earth would they release it? > To make a point? When we start looking at corporations to demonstrate “freedom from terrorist fear” for us, we have a real problem…we can’t even fucking do it ourselves. You can’t even do it from your anonymous perch on an internet forum. You’re the hero in all this. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/46 "2014-12-18T04:43:09Z")
Heck, North Korea should become the go-to bad guys for MORE movies; action, comedy and drama. Fuck those guys. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/47 "2014-12-18T05:08:45Z")
So apparently Sony’s canceled the movie completely. How disappointing ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/48 "2014-12-18T05:14:15Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Heck, North Korea should become the go-to bad guys for MORE movies; action, comedy and drama. > > Fuck those guys. Interestingly, in the very bad remake of Red Dawn (2011) the villains were changed from the Chinese to the North Koreans, seems that the Chinese market could not be ignored. :rolleyes: > **[Red Dawn (2012 film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dawn_%282012_film%29)** > > Red Dawn is a 2012 American action war film directed by Dan Bradley and written by Carl Ellsworth and Jeremy Passmore. It is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name. The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Adrianne Palicki, Isabel Lucas, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The film centers on a group of young people who defend their hometown from a North Korean invasion. > Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announced its intention to remake Red Dawn in May 2008 and subsequently hired Bradley and Ells... There were protests then made by very few nuts, (“North Korea is being treated unfairly!”) and very little from NK. Perhaps the solution would had been to had rich Chinese guys pulling the strings and/or helping the reporter characters in “The Interview”, hard to have the NK complaining much if their best ally was shown as losing patience with “the dear leader”. [And this wouldn’t had been too far from the truth](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/29/north-korea-china-us-buck). ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/49 "2014-12-18T05:18:59Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > The damage was already done. > > I fucking HATE pussies who are bullied into censorship. They _are_ pussies. And[Kim Jong-Un…is an asshole.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32iCWzpDpKs) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/50 "2014-12-18T05:23:35Z")
There’s a chill in the air: [New Regency cancels Steve Carrell’s North Korea movie](http://www.thewrap.com/steve-carells-north-korea-movie-pyongyang-cancelled-in-wake-of-sony-hack/). ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/51 "2014-12-18T05:47:01Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Uh, has this movie even hit the bootleg scene? I did not think it had. Theater was the only way to go. I wouldn’t be surprised if it has. Just wait for the inevitable spam: Watch “The Interview” online for free. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/52 "2014-12-18T06:24:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Wait a sec. Corporations are people, too. Why shouldn’t they be expected show the same bravery that we expect from every other citizen? Wait a sec. I’m supposed to be expecting bravery from the typical citizen of my country?!? Since when? Did I miss a memo, trending hashtag, meme, viral video, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/53 "2014-12-18T06:36:27Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Based on everything I know, I’d estimate the probability that there is a bomb in any theater showing _The Interview_ to be 100%. Good one. So, I guess I am the only one who thinks they were idiots to make this movie in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/54 "2014-12-18T06:45:37Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Wait a sec. I’m supposed to be expecting bravery from the typical citizen of my country?!? Since when? Did I miss a memo, trending hashtag, meme, viral video, etc? “Go about your business as usual,” they say. “Don’t let the threats stop your normal life. Go shopping.” Etc. To be sure, tho, it’s debatable if knuckling under to terrorist threats in the form of not inflicting another James Franco and/or Seth Rogen movie on the world is a net bad thing. But I just think we should expect the same things from both our corporeal and our corporate people, is all. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/55 "2014-12-18T15:32:32Z")
I was working in a theater when “The Last Temptation of Christ” was released. It was released limited due to the fact that theaters, especially in the mid-west were getting threats of violence if they played the sacrilegious movie. I personally got threats over the phone. The studio decided to not push it. So there is another example. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/56 "2014-12-18T15:57:33Z")
The Steve Carell movie that was canceled, [Pyongyang](http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/the-other-film-casualty-of-this-interview-mess.php), might or might not have been good, but it’s disappointing that it was cancelled. With Hollywood being more reliant on remakes and sequels and franchises, I like to see any more original idea, so it’s disappointing to see movies cancelled because of fear. Anyway, the graphic novel it would have been based upon looks good, I’m hoping my local comic book shop has it. > [@Wile\_E](#): > > So, I guess I am the only one who thinks they were idiots to make this movie in the first place? Why do you think they were idiots to make the movie? There are cases of movies causing threats of violence, but others that have gone on without trouble. It’d be interesting to make a list of movies with real-life current dictators in them, and a list of movies that have caused threats against the theaters. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/57 "2014-12-18T16:03:46Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Apparently they haven’t pulled the ads yet, I just saw one for the Christmas premier on SyFy. Media Buyer here. It’s hard to pull adds quickly from all vendors. Most have their logs (schedule of where ads will run and when) written up a day or two ahead of time and once they finalize those, it’s pretty hard to get the spot pulled. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/58 "2014-12-18T16:27:10Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Why do you think they were idiots to make the movie? Because they made the decision to use a real-world, live, head-of-state of an unfriendly nation. They were going to use a fake head of North Korea but thought that using Kim would be funnier. That was an idiotic move. Even friendly nations would be upset. Unfriendly nations would be furious. And nutty nations would go nuts. This was totally predictable. Anybody with two brain cells to rub together could have seen trouble coming. They just thought that North Korea was too impotent to carry through on any threat. Not in today’s world. Again, idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/59 "2014-12-18T16:32:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Because they made the decision to use a real-world, live, head-of-state of an unfriendly nation. They were going to use a fake head of North Korea but thought that using Kim would be funnier. That was an idiotic move. Even friendly nations would be upset. Unfriendly nations would be furious. And nutty nations would go nuts. > > This was totally predictable. Anybody with two brain cells to rub together could have seen trouble coming. They just thought that North Korea was too impotent to carry through on any threat. Not in today’s world. Again, idiocy. TPTHHHH…I don’t remember any flak over 30 Rock, and any heat over Team America wasn’t memorable either. Naked Gun took a shot at every single terrorist head of state. And friendly nations would be upset? Queen Elizabeth has been parodied since the end of time. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522/60 "2014-12-18T16:44:04Z")
I think they are much more likely to be afraid of more leaks than of any terrorist attack, they are probably glad the threats gave them a viable excuse for pulling the movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theater-chains-cancelling-the-interview/707522.md?page=4)