they didn't yet have the capability to hack sony or whoever made team america and no the father and the urchin lunatic are both state sponsered gods...

Yes, but they suck.

I would LOVE to see Sony use this to go VOD and hopefully change the industry to completely screw over the theatre chains. All of a sudden their short term thinking on this could further speed up their demise. Awesome!

People love movie theaters. They love the experience, the popcorn but most importantly, getting out of the house. While I've had to PPV and purchase scores of DVD's the past few years to due family reasons, I can't wait to hit up Arclight Cinemas, have a few drinks at the bar and watch Star Wars and Avengers 2 on the big screen.

It's really difficult envisioning theater chains disappearing from the Amercian experience.

I don't want them gone. I want them marginalized though. I want places like Alamo Drafthouse to be the norm and the AMCs and Regals to go away. I want the consumer to be able to chose to see a movie at home the same day it comes out at a theatre if they chose. The current system is archaic and a pain in the ass honestly. Thankfully in Texas we have a ton of Alamo and Alamo-clones to chose from... so it's not too bad.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/SonyPictures">@SonyPictures</a> don’t cave, fight: release @TheInterview free online globally. Ask viewers for voluntary $5 contribution to fight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ebola?src=hash">#Ebola</a>.</p>&mdash; Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) <a href="https://twitter.com/MittRomney/status/545379913772302336">December 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Turn it into the greatest PR coup ever?

Meh, I can't stand movie theaters. always some idiot on their cell phone or teens talking or a baby crying. Not to mention the tall guy that will always, ALWAYS pick the seat in front of my short wife even though there were still 100 other seats available. most of which were better seats than the one he chose.

I buy my seats advance online. I can choose the actual seat.

If someone uses a cell phone or talks at a Pacific Theater, the management will remove them.

Movie theaters have been doing everything they can to forestall the inevitable for a while now. There's only so long the viewing public will continue to pay $11.50 for a movie ticket and another $16.00 for nachos, a Mr. Pibb, and a box of Reese's Pieces. You might as well go see a ball game for that.

The system favors them, though. Movie success is based on opening weekend take; if the production companies change that - which they could by releasing the movie on PPV on opening day, as Austin Chief said - they'd have to redo their whole measurement dynamic. Plus, that change would have to happen in every country more or less simultaneously, and they'd have to determine a way to make their movies available to everyone, even those without PPV access.

That said, it's inevitable. The future of movie theaters is in the presentation itself. Its big advantages, besides the earlier release, is the spectacle, the enormous screen, the thundering sound, and as of late, the 3-D. Movie theaters which can capitalize on that will last; the chains will wane. Not today or tomorrow, but soon - very soon if we hit another recession or a full-fledged depression.

A friend and I actually have an idea of putting on a theater that shows second run or older films, with ushers, curtains, fancy chairs, promotions, showmanship, kid's specials on weekend afternoons, waving spotlights out in front, and of course beer; like the Drafthouse but without a full kitchen. We can't afford it right now but we're planning on it for the future. Hopefully it will happen.

I like the ones with the huge leather seats, a meal and bar service. Big IMAX screen.

If I cant get that then ones with bar service and upgraded seats. No kids.

I can't get that at home.

The hackers should take over North Korea's TV stations and force them all to watch the movie.

great idea!!!

do they have tv stations in nk?

The next James Bond ?

They do, but they're powered by people pushing big wooden spokes around a pole so reception is spotty.

I could live with that, but I don't think they've used up the current one, have they?