Google announced on Wednesday that it will stream "The Interview" on YouTube and Google Play. Customers can watch the controversial comedy streamed in their home TV through Chromecast, Nexus or Roku Player or in the Play Movies & TV app on Android and iOS phones or tablets.

According to Google, last Wednesday Sony contacted them and several other companies to ask if they would be interested in making "The Interview" available online.

"We'd had a similar thought and were eager to help -- though given everything that's happened, the security implications were very much at the front of our minds," Google said in the announcement.

Microsoft also struck an agreement with Sony to make "The Interview" available to its customers who have an Xbox console, a Windows Phone, or a PC or tablet running Windows 8 or 8.1.

Both Google and Microsoft agreed with Sony that it was unwise to allow a handful of people to limit the free speech in America with threats.

"I want to thank Google and Microsoft for helping make this a reality. This release represents our commitment to our filmmakers and free speech. While we couldn't have predicted the road this movie traveled to get to this moment, I'm proud our fight was not for nothing and that cyber criminals were not able to silence us," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment.

Fans in U.S. and Canada can watch "The Interview" on Google Play and YouTube Movies for $5.99. Microsoft customers can get the film for $5.99 at www.seetheinterview.com.

The movie that caused international strife between North Korea and the U.S. received threats by an hacker group called "Guardians of Peace" that theaters screening the movie and movie-goers would be in danger. Movie theater chains reacted by refusing to show it. Sony Pictures pulled the movie, and it seemed the film would never debut -- that is, until Sony Pictures surprised everyone with a decision to release "The Interview" in select independent movie theaters on Christmas Day.

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