Throughout today, more movie theater chains have announced that they would prefer not to screen the comedy “The Interview” in the wake of vague terrorist threats against theaters screening the film. Sony Pictures Entertainment, had already canceled the scheduled premiere in New York City tomorrow and told theater operators that they were welcome to not screen the movie if they don’t want to. All of the major theater chains took Sony up on this offer, and now the planned Christmas Day release has been canceled.

While the Department of Homeland Security says that there is no evidence of a credible threat to any movie theaters, the three largest theater chains opted to not screen The Interview. AMC, Cinemark, or Regal probably own most of your local multiplexes, and Sony has decided not to release the film on December 25th if it won’t be on the vast majority of screens nationwide.

The threatening message came from the same group of cyber-baddies who obtained employees’ personal and financial data, as well as a cache of company e-mails that Sony really, really doesn’t want entertainment reporters, or anyone else, to comb through.

In part, they said:

We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places “The Interview” be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to.

Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made.

Sony Pictures Entertainment has not announced at this time whether the release has been delayed or canceled entirely. Update: Sony said that it won’t be releasing the film in any other form: a spokesperson told Deadline Hollywood that it has “no further plans” to release it as a download or a DVD. That may change in the future.

The Daily Beast reported today that officials from the the U.S. Department of State reviewed the entire film before release, including the scenes depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and had no problems with it being released. Ironically, we know this because of an e-mail exchange leaked by the very group that made these threats, the Guardians of Peace.

Sony Pictures cancels Christmas Day release of ‘The Interview’ [L.A. Times]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.