The Interview makes $15 million in online release

Controversial Sony film The Interview has become the number one online movie ever released by the studio just four days after its release on 24 December.

The film raked in over $15 million and was downloaded more than two million times as of 27 December.

The movie, a farce that depicts the killing of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was withdrawn from a planned theatrical release after major exhibitors declined to show it because of a terror threat. Small theater chains revived the movie in several hundred theaters, while Sony and its business partners simultaneously offered the film online.

It angered North Korea and was behind a wide scale cyber attack on the studio.

The hack from a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace led to the leaking of confidential information including upcoming movie scripts, confidential emails and actors' salaries.

Sony halted the release after unspecified threats of attacks against cinemas.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later said its investigation into the hacking attack pointed the finger at North Korea. The country denied involvement, but described the hack as a "righteous deed".

Sony said in a statement on Sunday that the movie was made available in the US and Canada through Google services YouTube and Play, Microsoft's Xbox Video and its dedicated website in HD versions for 48-hour rental at $5.99 and for purchase at $14.99.

There was also a "strong turnout" for the movie's limited theatre release, after major US chains backed out of screening it.

Sony's move to cancel the film's release had garnered criticism in the US including from President Barack Obama, who said it meant freedom of expression was under threat.