'Plot' to kill North Korean leader draws movie goers

A fictional plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un drew throngs of moviegoers Thursday, as it became an unlikely symbol of free speech thanks to hacker threats that nearly scuppered its release.

The future of Sony's "The Interview" had been in doubt after the entertainment giant said it was cancelling the release following an embarrassing cyber attack on its corporate network and threats against patrons.

But massive support for its release, including from the White House, saw it open in theatres in the end.

BELIEF IN FREE SPEECH

And it was more than 300 independently owned theatres that took up the mantle, with some moviegoers dressed in patriotic red, white and blue or saying they were driven to see the film by their belief in free speech.

"It's controversial so I want to see it. I think it's something important, showing the freedom in the United States," said Adolfo Loustalot as he queued up to buy tickets outside "Los Feliz 3" cinema in Los Angeles.

The film was also available on a variety of digital platforms, including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and on a Sony website.

Star Seth Rogen and co-director Evan Goldberg made a surprise appearance at one of the first showings in Los Angeles just after midnight, when they thanked moviegoers and theatres for pushing to get the film out.

"We thought this might not happen at all," Rogen told a cheering crowd. The theater was near Rogen and Goldberg's homes, the men said.

"The fact that it's showing here and that you guys all came out," Goldberg said, "is super fucking exciting," Rogen finished.

Many of the biggest US movie theatre chains had got cold feet about showing the film after anonymous online threats, prompting Sony to pull the film.

The United States has blamed the Sony cyber attack on North Korea, and President Barack Obama has threatened reprisals.