Fan frenzy at Star Wars midnight screenings around the country

OVER 41,000 people attended midnight screenings at Event Cinemas around the country last night, as Star Wars continues to break box office records.

FROM the beaming grin of the smallest Wookie to the muffled yells of Darth Vaders, it was clear that Sydney fans — who had waited years, queued for hours and dressed for the occasion — were happy with the newest in the Star Wars saga.

41,400 fans attended midnight screenings of Star Wars VI: The Force Awakens at Event Cinemas around the country last night, with 2,100 tickets sold for midnight screenings at Event Cinemas George St, Sydney alone.

Lightsabre-wielding fans had also been queuing for the first look at the film at the Entertainment Quarter at Sydney’s Moore Park since 9pm.

The Star Wars (The Force Awakens) midnight screening was a huge thumbs up for hard core fans who dressed for the occasion.

“Dad brought us up on Star Wars from when we were old enough to not be scared ... We grew up in our teenage years absolutely loving Star Wars,” said Michael Kidd, who came to see the film dressed as Chewbacca along with his Hans-Solo-costumed wife and Jedi-dressed family.

“It’s super, super exciting, the fact that we don’t really know anything that’s going to happen in the plot,” 30-year-old Mr Kidd told AAP.

Crowds of fans gather at Event Cinemas, George Street, at midnight.

After the screening, sweat-drenched and half out of his Chewbacca costume, Mr Kidd simply said: “It was amazing.” One of the sessions hosted by Australia’s Star Wars fan club, Star Walking, saw close to 400 costumed fans scream, applaud and cheer on the intergalactic action.

Mick Fett, who helped organise the event, told AAP the film had left him speechless.

Cosplayers pose for a photograph ahead of the Midnight release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Event Cinemas in Parramatta, Sydney.

“I’ve seen it twice and both times I’ve come out feeling the same way,” Mr Fett said, dressed in his signature Australian Darth Vader costume.

One young fan put it simply: “I liked the new characters and all the new ... everything! I liked it all.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the fastest selling film of all time, smashing pre-sales for the previous record holder Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

The cinemas were full at midnight.