Despite threats from hackers, Sony Pictures persisted on releasing its controversial film, The Interview, which has now grossed over US$31 million from its online and on-demand release, the studio revealed.

The earnings were made from the film's first 11 days of release after it debuted on the eve of Christmas Day.

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Sony earlier announced that the film had grossed US$15 million four days after it made its online debut, making it, so far, the studio's highest grossing online release. The demand, however, lowered after the studio made the film available in other platforms.

The Interview may be Hollywood's most successful mainstream film online, it is projected that the film will earn even more as it is slated for wider theatrical release. Original forecasts pegged the film's revenue at US$30 million for its opening weekend.

Nevertheless, The Interview's gross is not enough to recoup the cost of production, which is believed to reach over US$40 million.

After hackers threatened to terrorize the theatres that will release the film, top theater chains in North America decided not to show the motion picture, which prompted Sony from cancelling the movie's theatrical release.

The movie has since been released in a number of smaller theaters, grossing over US$5 million in two weeks.

It is now being played in 558 theaters, a pittance to the 3,000 theatres it was originally set to play in

Sony has, nevertheless, boost digital operators a week ago. The Interview is available in cable on-demand providers as well as streaming providers, including YouTube and iTunes.  Sony revealed that the movie has already been rented, streamed or purchased 4.3 million times.

TagsThe Interview, the interview gross, Sony Hack