Last week Sony Pictures pulled the plug on the national release of the latest film teaming up Seth Rogen and James Franco, “The Interview.”

It was bad enough for Sony Pictures' when its computer network was hacked on Nov. 24. No one could have anticipated this controversial, B-comedy about a TV host and his producer recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un, would become so controversial as to prompt a debilitating cyber attack by hackers at Sony Pictures, and threats of terrorism directed at any U.S. theaters that showed the film.

The reason: “The Interview” made Jong-un look foolish.

When the theater chains began electing not to show “The Interview,” Sony had no choice but to cancel its national release, and issue a limited release on Christmas Day.

The two major silver screens in our local area, The Harbor Theatre in Boothbay Harbor and the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta reported no plans to show “The Interview.”

Jason Sheckley of The Harbor Theatre here in Boothbay Harbor said he wouldn't have felt comfortable showing it for security reasons.

“Even though we're ‘in the back woods,’” said theater owner Jason Sheckley, “at this point, I wouldn't run it — but in the future, who knows? It depends on how it goes at other theaters ... my inclination now is to stay away, but never say never.”

Andrew Fenniman said the Lincoln Theater, “ ... didn't consider running it because it didn't appear to be the kind of quality film we usually run.”

This wasn't surprising given the Damariscotta theater is more of an arts/performance venue; it's nice to have somewhere close by to see live broadcasts of Shakespeare and other plays from across the pond, opera and live theater and musical performances.

Reuters reported 330 theaters nationwide did so, but not before millions of viewers saw it, Christmas Eve, at home on YouTube, Google Play or Xbox gaming devices. On Dec. 28, Sony released the film to iTunes where it could be rented or bought.

Recent headlines tell us “The Interview” has become Sony's biggest online film — ever — to the tune of $15 million!