The stars were out in force for the World Premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Los Angeles on Tuesday. And happily for them the reaction by fans and critics who saw the movie was overwhelmingly positive.
The movie was screened in Los Angeles' TCL Chinese Theatre, which was the location of the premiere of the original 1977 film Star Wars, The Dolby Theatre and the El Capitan Theatre.
JJ Abrams was busy with autograph hunters
Afterwards Twitter imploded with rave reviews following the special screenings. Adam B Vary, a reporter for Buzzfeed, tweeted: "Rest easy: The Force Awakens is 100% Star Wars, and something new. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac: welcome."
Rest easy: #TheForceAwakens is 100% #StarWars, and something new. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac: welcome.
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) December 15, 2015
Rebecca Keegan, a film writer for the Los Angeles Times, wrote: "Story, characters, design, humour - Star Wars fans, this is the movie you're looking for."
Story, characters, design, humor -- #StarWars fans, this is the movie you're looking for.
— Rebecca Keegan (@ThatRebecca) December 15, 2015
Documentary director Brett Morgen, best known for Montage of Heck, about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, wrote: "Force Awakens might be the best blockbuster since the original." He added: "Force Awakens delivers on every level".
#ForceAwakens delivers on every level.
— Brett Morgen (@brettmorgen) December 15, 2015
Meanwhile the stars graced the red carpet for the World Premiere. Veterans from the original series including Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher joined newcomers including John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o and Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson, who brought his dad Brendan along for the big occasion.
'I am your father' Domhnall
Back in October Brendan, when asked by TEN if he was excited to see his son in Star Wars this December, said: "I'd prefer to see him at home". He also joked about the non-disclosure contract Domnhall signed, saying: "Ah yeah come on. It's like a pre-nup!"
Harrison Ford was a big hit on the red carpet
Carrie Fisher and Billie Lourd in giddy form
Speaking on the red carpet, director JJ Abrams admitted he was nervous.
"There are certainly nerves showing the movie to 1,000-pluspeople tonight but I feel very confident in the work that wasdone by the actors. So, if nothing else, I know people willenjoy watching their performances," he said.
Director J.J. Abrams and his wife Katie McGrath
Mark Hamill, who reprises his role as Luke Skywalker, advised some over-excited fans to be realistic about their expectations.
"It's only a movie and if you think you're going to go into the movie and recapture your childhood you're setting yourself up for disappointment," he said.
Mark Hamill is back as Luke Skywalker
Lupita Nyong'o who plays Maz Kanata in the movie looked stunning in a shimmering floor length number on the red carpet. After all the months of hype the Oscar winning actress said she is disappointed the movie's secrecy is over.
Lupita Nyong'o looking stunning as always on the red carpet
"I'm a little disappointed to tell you the truth. I was kind of enjoying the secrecy because I got to have a secret that everyone else wanted and now I have to share it.
"At the same time I'm extremely excited for the fans to finally own this film. It's made for the world to watch," she said.
The cat is out of the bag and @Lupita_Nyongo @starwars says she's not happy about sharing #TheForceAwakens secrets https://t.co/87VceiRNv2
— RTÉ TEN (@RTE_TEN) December 15, 2015
Check out TEN's Star Wars red carpet gallery in full here.
Watch TEN's interview with Star Wars star John Boyega
The scale of last night's premiere was absolutely enormous. The red carpet was around half a mile long, under a huge marquee which stretched the length of four blocks of Hollywood Boulevard.
Stormtroopers march down the (very long) red carpet
Many Star Wars fans had begun queuing for the screening of The Force Awakens almost eight days before the big event.
They were told ahead of the screening that they had to queue for at least 24 hours in order to buy a pair of tickets to the event, with an additional ticket costing them another day of queuing.
Afterwards many of those fans said it was worth the wait. One fan, Mike Senna said it delivered everything he hoped for.
The look and the feel of the film is like the old trilogy. It felt like home. It felt warm and fuzzy
while another fan Brandon Jackson was even more enthusiastic with his praise declaring that it was amazing.
Everything I ever dreamed of. Absolutely fantastic. Man, I want to tell you everything but I can't because you can't do that but it was awesome....You won't be disappointed
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will goes on general release in Ireland on December 17 with nearly all of the midnight screenings on Wednesday now sold out.
