Sony Pictures announced this afternoon that they have cancelled the December 25 theatrical release of The Interview after receiving several anonymous threats promising violence akin to the 9/11 attacks on cinemas choosing to screen the film. We can debate for hours over whether or not this was the best course of action, but the fact remains there has never been more buzz for The Interview than there is right now. Despite all their best efforts to bury this film, the hackers currently attacking Sony have only made more people curious about the latest comedic romp from James Franco and Seth Rogen. Even people who don’t usually see movies with these stars want to see The Interview, and as word gets out about the cancelled Christmas Day release, that demand will only continue to grow.

I know working at Sony right now is probably not too unlike living in Hell, but if someone in power can look up from the flood of headlines being generated from tidbits found in leaked company documents they may realize a unique opportunity stands before them. For years people have been talking about Video On Demand (VOD) becoming a more prominent part of the entertainment discussion, and following the success of Snowpiercer earlier this year I think it’s safe to say that is exactly what has happened. Most people know what VOD is at this point, and a good portion have used it at least once. Sony could avoid making theater chains nervous and potentially further enrage the hackers currently tearing them apart by acknowledging this and releasing The Interview in the near future. Christmas Day may be a bit too short of notice, but it’s not outside the realm of possibilities to believe Sony could get The Interview on a service like iTunes or Amazon before the end of 2014. That would allow everyone the ability to see it while removing the ability for these so-called cyber terrorists to target large gatherings of cinema fans. Everyone wins.

If you work at Sony right now and you’re reading this, PLEASE print off this story and take it to your immediate supervisor. If they don’t understand the potential goldmine they’re sitting on, take it to the person above them. Someone has to understand the demand for this movie will never be higher than it is right now, and though some may think it risky, the smart business move would be to make the film available to those who want to see it. If not, I don’t know if there is any hope for Sony to come out of this with its head held high. You were bullied and did nothing to fight back. In fact, you let the bully win.

Don’t let the bully win. Take control of your company and tell hackers to buzz off by making The Interview available to watch from the comfort of any consumer’s home. Please.

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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