Excited Star Wars Fans Swarm Colorado Cinema For Premiere

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Nonstop Star Wars for 72 hours.

That's how Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is describing their marathon of showings of the premiere of the much-hyped film "Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens."

"The fact that we're trying to save cinema, part of that means if we're going to show Star Wars 24/7, we're going to try," said Steve Bessette, creative manager of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

CBS4 caught up with Bessette early Friday morning after several showings of the film had already been screened, and he said watching the crowds packing it in to see the movie so far has been "surreal."

"It's been kind of like watching a tidal wave come in as you're standing on the beach," Bessette said. "We couldn't have asked for a better time."

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is one of several theaters on Colorado's Front Range showing the movie around the clock until demand dies down.

"This was the only time I could get," said Torrie Mindrebo, who had tickets for the 1:40 a.m. showing of the film. "I had coffee and I've just been ready for it and I'm too jazzed to think about sleep."

Mindrebo spoke for many fans when he told CBS4 "It's going to live up to all my dreams I'm sure."

Jeany Ngo, one of the first Coloradans to see the movie, said she her expectations were met after seeing the film.

"And then some. Surpassed, I would even say."

Ngo said she enjoyed watching the film "with everyone who has the same enthusiasm as you."

As part of the festivities for the premiere of the movie, the cinema brought in a band called H2Awesome! to perform in their lobby. The self proclaimed "nerd rock band" played a Star Wars-themed set.

There are still some seats for the shows during the Alamo's movie marathon, according to Bessette, but most open seats are at the overnight or early morning showings.

- Written for CBSDenver.com by Jesse Sarles