Fans Flock To Local Theaters For 'The Force Awakens'

HOMESTEAD (KDKA) -- Fans have waited months to see the latest installment in the Star Wars series, and the die-hard fans are stopping at nothing to be among the first in the theater for the big event.

Fans were streaming in Thursday night for the first showings of "The Force Awakens." Some fans in Homestead even came in Wednesday night for a marathon of the first six Star Wars movies. At one point Thursday night, 17 out of 22 screens at the AMC Waterfront were showing the latest Star Wars installment.

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Loyal to the Force, they came almost 300 strong to live the Star Wars story through the first six movies and then on to "The Force Awakens."

Fans said they came for the once-in-a-lifetime event, because they had been watching the movies since they were a little kid or because they never got to see the original trilogy on the big screen. They came to catch up with old friends, like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo.

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All over town, on multiple screens, lightsabers flashed as the forces clash once again, starting at 7 p.m. While stray tickets can be had here and there, most of the weekend showings are sold out, and the enthusiasts are arriving, some in costume.

However, many theaters have rules about arriving in costumes. Face paint, masks and helmets are not allowed, along with real or fake weapons -- including lightsabers.

Fan reactions after the earlier screenings of the movie were positive, with fans saying it went beyond their expectations and brought back feelings of the original trilogy.