Efforts to intimidate Sony Pictures Entertainment into not releasing a comedy film that ridicules North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un - and centers on his attempted assassination - proved a smashing success for computer hackers. Expect similar future actions by other groups offended by a movie's subject, or by other creative works for that matter.

As far as setting bad precedents, it doesn't get much worse than this.

The threats against Sony Pictures and theaters that would dare show the comedy, "The Interview," were contained in emails sent Tuesday to various news organizations. Preceding the warning, in what was an apparent attempt to unnerve Sony, hackers accessed and publicly disseminated internal Sony emails and medical, salary and other personal employee information. The cyberattacks are almost certainly tied to the North Korean government.

"Remember the 11th of September 2001," read one of the threats, which also warned moviegoers and neighbors to "keep yourself distant" from theaters that carry the movie, which had been set for general release Christmas Day. Quickly, the New York City premiere, set for this week, was canceled, as were promotional appearances by stars Seth Rogen and James Franco.

On Wednesday, major theater chains began announcing they would not carry "The Interview," fearful moviegoers would stay away and lower turnout for all the movies at their multiscreen cinemas.

Around 5 p.m., Sony announced it too would surrender to the bullying by pulling the Dec. 25 release.

"We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression," added the release.

Funny way of showing it.

"The Interview" is hardly highbrow art. The New York Times describes it as a "raunchy comedy." It was needlessly provocative to have the two bumbling main characters depicted as plotting to kill a sitting world leader, Mr. Jong-un. The screenplay could have created a fictional character, easily recognizable as Mr. Jong-un, to make its laughs.

That being said, the decision to kowtow to these threats is a terrible one and will only invite more such actions.