Watch ’The Interview’ Online Christmas Eve: Sony Releases Film Digitally

You can watch The Interview online Christmas Eve, a day ahead of its original December 25 theatrical release.

CNN’s Brian Stelter broke the news this morning, originally reporting that the film studio was in talks with YouTube to digitally distribute the controversial comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

CNN exclusive: YouTube has tentatively agreed to make "The Interview" available as a movie rental. More here shortly: http://t.co/NYuUR8gKil

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 24, 2014

Stelter said via Twitter that Sony confirmed the news, and is actually releasing it on digital platforms including YouTube, Google Play, Microsoft’s Xbox Video service, and SeeTheInterview.com earlier than expected, at 1 p.m. Eastern time Christmas Eve.

Sony CONFIRMS: "The Interview" will be available for rental through YouTube, Google Play, Microsoft's Xbox Video, etc. TODAY. At 1pm ET.

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 24, 2014

Variety is also reporting that Sony is in talks with Netflix to stream the film, although it would likely be delayed by a few days if that deal comes to pass.

So you’ll be able to celebrate Christmas and the First Amendment at the same time this afternoon, by watching The Interview online. Stelter says it will cost $6 to rent or $15 to buy.

As CNN’s media reporter points out, this is groundbreaking for a reason beyond the film’s controversy: it will mark the first time a major Hollywood film is released in theaters and at home on the same day. After backtracking on its original decision to scrap the Christmas release entirely, Sony is allowing about 300 independent theaters screen the film as intended.

The film stirred controversy after its plot seemingly led to a North Korean hack of Sony’s computers, which dumped private corporate emails and film-related documents into the public domain and put the studio on the defensive for much of the past month. When the hackers threatened physical violence if the film’s release went ahead, several big theater chains across the United States and Canada pulled the film. That forced Sony to cancel the release outright.

But in the past week, a public backlash that included criticism from President Barack Obama had Sony scrambling to find alternate distribution options. Stelter says that the studio originally worked with Apple for a release on its iTunes store, but that fell through on Tuesday.

“We are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience,” Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said Tuesday.

Those efforts have led to a groundbreaking day in cinema history, but whether watching The Interview online for other than protest purposes is worth it remains to be seen. The Seth Rogen/James Franco film has received very mixed reviews, only sitting at 53% fresh on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Watch ’The Interview’ Online Christmas Eve: Sony Releases Film Digitally