Star Wars fans are ready for their big day today — with theatre owners saying they have never seen demand like it.

The Force Awakens, the seventh film in the blockbuster franchise and the first in a decade, will premiere at 7.30pm at the Speciality Cinema this evening, with guests in costumes set to receive novelty popcorn tubs, lightsabers and prizes.

Giovanna Easton, who owns the theatre with her husband, Shandon, said she has been overwhelmed by the interest.

“We’ve officially owned the business for eight years and in the eight years I have never seen the demand for a movie like this,” she told The Royal Gazette.

The theatre typically puts tickets on sale the Tuesday before a movie starts, but Mrs Easton said the clamour forced them to start selling last month.

“The amount of people that called up and wanted tickets was crazy,” she said. “We launched our ticket sales on November 23 and there was a line outside. People were sitting outside waiting for tickets.”

She described her husband as a “die-hard fan” who had been talking about the movie for more than a year. He will be dressed as Darth Vadar for the event, while Mrs Easton will be Princess Leia.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs Denton Parris and Alissa Hayward have rented out one of the rooms for their new venture, NerdGear.

They will be selling official Star Wars merchandise such as bobblehead figurines, T-shirts, lightsabers, key chains, coffee cups, masks and games.

“He is one of our die-hards as well. For any movie. He’s always messages asking for memorabilia,” Mrs Easton said of Mr Parris.

The Bermuda International Film Festival has also announced that tickets for its Saturday screening were almost sold out.

Volunteer coordinator Jeannie Flath stated: “This event is going to be a blast. It promises to be a night to remember and a great kick-off to the 2016 Bermuda International Film Festival.”