FARMINGTON — Drizzling rain couldn’t dampen the force of enthusiasm as the premiere of the movie, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” was celebrated by movie fans, many in costume, at Narrow Gauge Cinemas.

Three theaters were filled for four showings Thursday night as the long-awaited film opened.

The last “Star Wars” movie was 10 years ago, theater owner John Moore said. This is the seventh movie in the series, but the first produced with the involvement of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The lobby soon filled for the first showing at 7 p.m. Some were already waiting for the 7:30 p.m. seats.  

A costume contest started at 6:30 p.m. and within a half hour, nearly 30 people had signed up, theater employee Jen Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson took photos of each costumed character against a backdrop of cardboard figures from the movie. The winners in the child and adult categories will be chosen Friday and announced on the theater’s Facebook page, Moore said.

Two large cakes bearing movie quotes will be served as they leave, he said.

It is a good story, moviegoer Cote McLain said as he and Stephanie Harmon posed in a photo board based on the movie and painted by Lauren Duvall, a Mt. Blue High School student and part-time theater employee. They were hoping director J.J. Abrams would continue with another hit, just as he had with the “Star Trek” films.

Everyone asked had seen all six movies, knew the characters and couldn’t wait to see this one.

Dressed as a generic Jedi, Ryan Gaudet of Weld remembered his dad bringing him to earlier shows. He has continued with the story and has seen every one of them, he said. 

Adam Mason of Farmington didn’t have to make his Jedi knight costume for the contest. It was already hanging in his closet and used for similar dress-up occasions. Mason, like everyone else there, admitted to being a big fan.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net