Several hundred people in suburban Chicago were among those who watched Sony Pictures' movie "The Interview" on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Movie theaters in Buffalo Grove, Naperville and Woodridge screened the comedy after threats from hackers nearly derailed its release. The Seth Rogen-James Franco film depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Sony initially called off its release after major theater chains dropped the movie. But company officials changed their minds after President Barack Obama and others criticized the decision. Sony made the movie available online and at about 300 independent theaters.

Buffalo Grove Theater owner Debbie Benjamin says she showed the movie because "people have the right to see what they want to see." She had 275 people watch the film at midnight on Christmas.