Russian audiences are the first to see the new movie "Snowden". A hero or a traitor? A U.S. patriot - or an enemy of the State? Viewers of the new 'Snowden' movie that hit Russian cinema screens on Thursday - a day ahead of the U.S. premier - will have to decide for themselves.

The movie tells the story of Edward Snowden, the former U.S. National Security Agency intelligence contractor turned whistleblower, one of Amercia's most wanted men.

The movie was shot by U.S. film director Oliver Stone, known for controversial revisions of key moments of American history and raising questions about U.S. government accountability.

This film - based on two books about Edward Snowden, written by the Guardian's journalist Luke Harding and Snowden's Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena - focuses on mass surveillance programs used by the U.S. and British governments. 

Having leaked thousands of classified files in 2013, the whistleblower sought refuge in Russia - after he was stripped of his American passport while traveling from Hong Kong to Moscow. Snowden spent almost a month in Moscow's airport before getting asylum in Russia. And that's partly why Russia was chosen for the global movie theater release.

"Snowden lives here. He's always on top of the news whenever he gives interviews, or his public appearances, which are rare, but still he's a very popular figure in Russia," said Victor Michaelson, Communicator Group PR Agency.

The Russian public it seems is interested both in the hero of the movie and the message that Edward Snowden is sending to the world.

"He's an amazing guy, he's like the same guy like Julian Assange. He's trying to change the world and did a lot. And he's a very brave guy," said Roman, chocolate producer.

"I think it's a hero of 21 century. He's right about security, about freedom of the people. Of course, everyone needs to know about it, about truth," said Yuri, system engineer.

The distributors expect the movie will run for weeks in hundreds of movie theaters across Russia.