The latest installment of the series, Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, is set to release on Dec. 18 in theatres across Canada with advance screenings available on Dec. 17.
The Cochrane Movie House had 305 tickets available for the red carpet event, which is the highest amount of tickets the theatre has ever had available for an advance screening, and still sold out a month in advance.
“The tickets went on sale during the third week of October and were sold out about the third week of November,” said Fiona Gilbert, manager at the Cochrane Movie House. “They are expecting it to be the biggest movie opening ever.”
But fear not, Star Wars lovers – there are still tickets available for all the other show times at the local movie house, including the opening night on Friday, Dec. 18.
“This is the first movie that hits so many different generations. It is not just a kid movie, it is not just an adult movie, it’s not just for sci-fi fans. It is just for anyone who likes movies,” Gilbert explained.
“So I think it just hits inter-generational and all movie goers and lovers. It is going to be a good movie.”
The original film, Star Wars (later renamed Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) was released 38 years ago in 1977 winning 44 different movie awards, including Best Effects and Best Music from the Academy Awards and Best Original Score from the Golden Globes, not to mention the other 27 nominations including Best Picture.
The other five movies that followed have also been nominated or won Academy Awards, with a combined box office revenue of $4.38 billion.
“When the tickets went on sale in the big theatres in the city, we wanted to let the people of Cochrane have access to tickets early too, so that they could come and make their plans,” Gilbert explained.
This will be the biggest red carpet event for the Cochrane Movie House, only to be followed by 50 Shades of Grey, selling 295 advance tickets, and The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies selling 175 advance tickets.
“People can expect to walk into the theatre and be transported to another world – a world of Star Wars,” Gilbert revealed.
The doors open on the red carpet event at 6 p.m. with the movie starting at 7 p.m. The Movie House will be decorated in full Star Wars theme thanks to manager Nicole Copses, and staff will be using the two biggest theatre spaces to show the movie.
“I’m expecting an exciting, fabulous event like no other,” Gilbert exclaimed. “We’ve had big events before but not with the same kind of following or dedicated fans.”
The red carpet event will also have door prizes available and a costume contest.
“I’m not sure who the judges will be yet but I think it will be a big challenge for them,” Gilbert said with a laugh. “And Nicole works tirelessly on getting cool gadgets and paraphernalia, so there will be some cool and really neat door prizes.”
For those with advance screening tickets, be prepared to show up early to get a good seat, as the tickets still have general admission rules, with first come, first serve seating.
“We’ve had people tell us they will line up in the morning – and we joke about having them wrapped around the building a couple times,” Gilbert said with a laugh. “Hopefully it is not a cold night. It is just a fun kind of excitement of watching the movie with 300 other big fans.”
For those who missed out on the red carpet event, other tickets are available for all other show times, according to staff.
For more information on other show times for Star Wars Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, visit the Cochrane Movie House website at cochranemoviehouse.com or visit the theatre, located at 218 Fifth Ave W.
