The actions of hackers who released a trove of e-mails stolen from Sony Pictures executives indicates the U.S. has not done all it can do to prevent enemies from exploiting “vulnerabilities” in our technology, President Obama said today. 
 
 Interested in ? Add as an interest to stay up to date on the latest news, video, and analysis from ABC News. Add Interest 
 
 “We’ve made progress,” Obama said in an exclusive interview with ABC “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir. “But what we just saw with Sony shows a lot more progress needs to be done. That means, by the way, that Congress also needs to take up cyber security legislation that’s been languishing for several years now.” 
 
 The hackers threatened to launch a Sept. 11, 2001-style attack on theaters screening the yet-to-be-released Sony film, “The Interview,” which depicts the fictitious assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The federal government determined that North Korea was responsible for the hack. 
 
 Today Sony Pictures announced it was cancelling the film’s Dec. 25 release. 
 
 “In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film ‘The Interview,’ we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release,” the company said in a statement. “We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers.” 
 
 Even before Sony’s announcement, President Obama had encouraged Americans to go to the movies. 
 
 “The cyber-attack is very serious,” Obama told Muir, but added: “For now my recommendation would be that people go to the movies.” 
 
 In addition, the president said authorities saw “no credible evidence” of a “serious threat to theaters.” 
 
 More of the interview with the president will air tonight on “Nightline” and tomorrow on “Good Morning America.” In the wide-ranging conversation, Muir also asked Obama about the release of American Alan Gross after five years of imprisonment in Cuba, Fidel Castro and the 2016 presidential campaign. ||||| Sony Pictures has denied bowing to threats from North Korea by dropping the film The Interview after Barack Obama claimed it had “made a mistake” in shelving the release. 
 
 In statement after the President criticised Sony for cancelling the release of the satirical film, the troubled company claimed had only done so after cinemas pulled out of screening it. 
 
 The studio said it is now “surveying alternatives to enable us to release the movie on a different platform". 
 
 Mr Obama said he was “sympathetic” to the studio during his end-of-year press conference at the White House on Friday, but stressed: “We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States.” 
 
 After leaking private emails and information about the company, hackers had made threats against cinemas who screened The Interview. 
 
 The Seth Rogen comedy depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 
 
 This threat saw the studio cancel the Christmas Day release. 
 
 However, Sony Pictures chief executive and chairman Michael Lynton hit back at the President’s comments, telling CNN it had not “caved” following the hack the FBI confirmed North Korea is responsible for. 
 
 "We have not given in. And we have not backed down. We have always had every desire to have the American public see this movie," he said. 
 
 Sony Cyber Attack: The Worst Affected In Hollywood 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13 show all Sony Cyber Attack: The Worst Affected In Hollywood 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1/13 Leonardo DiCaprio The actor's 'horrible behaviour' over Steve Jobs biopic was branded 'actually despicable' in leaked Sony executive emails Getty Images 
 
 2/13 Seth Rogen Seth Rogen and James Franco cancel Interview (North Korea-baiting film) press appearances after Sony hackers' threats 
 
 3/13 James Franco Seth Rogen and James Franco cancel Interview press appearances after Sony hackers' threats AP 
 
 4/13 Aaron Sorkin The screenwriter has said that the people who hacked into Sony Entertainment Pictures and released private emails are 'threatening the lives of whole families' Theo Wargo | Getty Images for Nantucket Film Festival 
 
 5/13 Amy Pascal Also leaked: Sony Pictures co-chair Amy Pascal's email joking about President Barack Obama's race Getty Images 
 
 6/13 George Clooney Leaked email chain between Pascal and George Clooney appeared to reveal just how much the actor struggled to cope with the criticism of his The Monuments Men Getty 
 
 7/13 Barack Obama Sony executives Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal's leaked email exchange jokes about Barack Obama favouring films with black actors Getty 
 
 8/13 Channing Tatum Channing Tatum's leaked Sony executive email responding to the success of 22 Jump Street with Jonah Hill, which became the highest grossing R-rated comedy ever when it opened in June this year Getty Images 
 
 9/13 Jaden and Willow Smith Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's children Willow and Jaden Smith found themselves in the Sony inbox as well Getty 
 
 10/13 Mark Gordon DiCaprio's exchange with Jobs TV producer Mark Gordon (pictured) was leaked too Getty Images 
 
 11/13 Princess Beatrice Sony hackers linked to North Korea revealed Princess Beatrice earns $30,000 a year 
 
 12/13 Michael Fassbender Aaron Sorkin's leaked emails claimed he had no idea who actor Michael Fassbender (pictured) was Getty Images 
 
 13/13 Scott Rudin Information leaked has also included embarrassing emails involving high profile producer Scott Rudin attacking Angelina Jolie Getty Images 
 
 Mr Lynton said "the president, the press and the public are mistaken" over what had actually led to it stopping the release. 
 
 "We do not own movie theatres. We cannot determine whether or not a movie will be played in movie theatres." 
 
 He said Sony had “a number of options open to us and we have considered those and are considering them”. 
 
 Many have speculated that a possible release could be online, although Mr Lynton did not comment on this. 
 
 Seth Rogen in cancelled Sony Pictures comedy The Interview 
 
 He did say that no "major video on demand distributor" has been "willing to distribute" the film. "We don't have that direct interface with the American public, so we need to go through an intermediary to do that,” he told CNN. 
 
 In a statement following up from Mr Lynton’s comments, Sony added: "It is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so." 
 
 Explaining the decision not to proceed with the Christmas Day screening of the film, Sony had said. "Let us be clear - the only decision that we have made with respect to release of the film was not to release it on Christmas Day in theatres, after the theatre owners declined to show it. 
 
 "Without theatres, we could not release it in the theatres on Christmas Day. We had no choice. 
 
 "It is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so."
– President Obama didn't mince words today when asked at his end-of-the-year news conference about Sony Pictures: "Yes, I think they made a mistake," he said of the company's decision to pull the movie The Interview, reports NBC News. "We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship in the United States," he said. Obama added that he was "sympathetic" to Sony's concerns as a corporation, but he said the precedent set over a "satirical movie" is a terrible one. "I wish they would have spoken to me first." Of the hackers: "They caused a lot of damage, and we will respond." Of the movie's star, Seth Rogen: "I love Seth." Other topics: Black America: It is better off "in the aggregate" than when he came into office, said Obama, but work remains. He spoke of a "growing awareness" that law enforcement isn't always "applied in a colorblind fashion." Cuba: "Change is going to come to Cuba. It has to." Fidel: Obama said that when he was on the phone to President Raul Castro about renewing relations, he apologized for talking at length. Castro replied that his famous brother once spoke for seven hours' straight and that Obama was a young man who still had a chance to beat that record. 'Resurgence': Obama opened the news conference by ticking off improvements in the economy, job creation, and health care, and asserted that "America's resurgence is real. We are better off." Congress: Obama said he "sincerely" wants to work with the new Congress, citing areas such as simplifying the tax code, boosting US exports, and rebuilding infrastructure, reports CNN. Keystone: Construction of the pipeline from Canada would create some jobs, but the pipeline in general would not make "even a nominal" difference for US consumers.