A man walks by the poster for the film "The Interview" outside the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Littleton, Colorado December 23, 2014. Sony Pictures said on Tuesday it will release "The Interview" to a limited number of theatres on Dece
IN PHOTO: A man walks by the poster for the film "The Interview" outside the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Littleton, Colorado December 23, 2014. Sony Pictures said on Tuesday it will release "The Interview" to a limited number of theatres on December 25, less than a week after it cancelled the comedy's release following a devastating cyberattack blamed on North Korea. Sony's about-face came after it absorbed withering criticism, even from President Barack Obama for its decision last week to pull the film, which was seen not only as self-censorship in Hollywood but also caving into hackers working for North Korea. Reuters/Rick Wilking

Less than a week after it cancelled its release following a devastating cyberattack, Sony Pictures had a change of heart and will finally allow a limited theatrical release of the movie The Interview right smack on Christmas Day.

The movie will be shown by independent theatres in the United States, among them Plaza, an independent theatre in Atlanta, Ga as well as the Alamo Drafthouse theatre in Texas. The reversal of the entertainment giant's decision to ban the movie came after President Barack Obama said it should not cave in to pressure from North Korea. It has yet to be determine if Canada will release the movie.

Sony Pictures pulled out $44 million movie The Interview after North Korea convinced major theatre chains in the U.S. and Canada not to show it. Otherwise, terror attacks reminiscent of the Sept 11 incidents will happen again. A hacker group called Guardians of Peace, reportedly backed by North Korea, isn't amused over how North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was included in the story fictional plot, and that he gets killed in the movie.

As expected, the White House praised Sony's reversal. "The decision made by Sony and participating theatres allows people to make their own choices about the film, and we welcome that outcome," presidential spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement.

The movie's Seth Rogen and James Franco immediately took to Twitter to shout the good news. Michael Lynton, Sony Entertainment chair and CEO, said in a statement that the company "never gave up" on releasing the movie. "We're excited our movie will be in a number of theatres on Christmas Day," he said, adding Sony is trying "to secure more platforms and more theatres so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience."

VICTORY!!!!!!! The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!! SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters... http://t.co/0KyZQAB6cf

— James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) December 23, 2014

The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up! The Interview will be shown at theaters willing to play it on Xmas day!

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) December 23, 2014

Even the movie's Kim Jong-un, actor Randall Park, was ecstatic.

WE DID IT! THANK YOU ALL! ENJOY THE MOVIE! @Sethrogen @evandgoldberg @JamesFrancoTV @thedianabang @dansterl @SonyPictures @BarackObama

— Randall Park (@parkrandall) December 23, 2014

The Plaza tweeted the following details of showtimes of the movie made entirely in Canada:

The Interview -Times Christmas Day 4pm 5pm 6:30 7:30 9:35 12/26 to 1/1 times will be announced tomorrow. On 2 screens

— Plaza Atlanta (@PlazaAtlanta) December 23, 2014