Hopefully at this point you've sipped on some Star Wars cocktails, made a pilgrimage to filming locations in the area and read up on Disneyland's upcoming Star Wars land. But until tonight's Episode VII—The Force Awakens premiere and Thursday's theatrical release, pretty much all we've had to satisfy out intergalactic cravings has been a ton of hype and a few brilliantly marketed trailers. Will the movie live up to our expectations? Only time will tell, but the build-up is exciting enough for now. Here's what you need to know about what has turned into Hollywood's biggest event of the year.
1. Tonight's premiere is taking place at not one, not two, but three theaters. Because one theater just can't contain the hype, The TCL Chinese, Dolby and El Capitan theaters will all screen the film.
2. Don't drive around Hollywood. Four blocks around the theaters are shutting down for the premiere tonight. Hollywood Boulevard has been shut down since last week. Do what's best and just avoid the area entirely.
3. Well... Star Wars isn't the only reason they're shut down. Hollywood Boulevard will close again on Tuesday and Wednesday for two more premieres: The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Point Break, a remake of the 1991 classic.
4. Fans have been camping out for more than a week. And that's not even for tonight's star-studded premiere—they've been in line since at least December 5 for Thursday's theatrical release. And to be clear, they didn't have to wait that long to get in, but they want the best seats—you've got to respect that in a superfan.
5. Plot twist: those campers? They have to clear out for the night. They have to leave the four-block radius during tonight's premiere, but apparently the theater is holding onto their tents and gear.
6. Two fans are getting married in line. Ah, is any love so sweet as nerd love? Caroline Ritter and Andrew Porters flew from Australia to wait in line for the premiere, and will say "I do" a few hours before Thursday's screening.
7. LAPD is really beefing up security. Not only are the road closures more intense than those of the Academy Awards, so is the security detail. Considering recent terrorist attacks, they're not messing around.
8. And that applies to the theatrical premiere as well. ArcLight Cinemas emailed a list of items that would not be allowed into the theater, including large bags, masks, face paint and props—yes, that means no lightsabers.
Here's a map that details closures:
Courtesy: Ed Collins
In Hollywood for the world premiere of Star Wars The Force Awakens. Calm before the storm on the red carpet.... pic.twitter.com/tvw693ZrVu
— Gus Lopez (@toysrgus) December 14, 2015
Do YOU want to watch the premiere of "Star Wars" next to a fan who camped in line for 2 weeks? #TheSmellAwakens pic.twitter.com/EmuDYYYFQS
— Robert Ballecer, SJ (@padresj) December 8, 2015