The grinch didn't steal Christmas after all for Sony.<br/> <br />It's movie "The Interview" about a plot to kill North Korea's leader earned $18 million during its opening weekend.<br/> <br />This includes nearly $3 million from independent theaters and $15 million from digital rentals or purchases. The film had been expected to earn $20 million in wide release, according to Boxoffice.com<br/> <br />Major theater chains such as AMC and Regal Entertainment decided not to show the movie after threats from hackers, but more than 300 independent chains decided to do so.<br/> <br />"The Interview" could be a game changer for the movie industry.<br/> <br />Sony says the movie has been purchased or downloaded more than 2 million times, making it Sony's number online movie of all time.<br/> <br />It's uncertain whether Sony will recoup the estimated $44 million in production costs and the millions of dollars spent to market the film.<br/> <br />Apple is now offering "The Interview" on iTunes.
