Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 10 things you need to know from the world premiere

The world premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens shut down a galaxy far, far away (Hollywood) on Monday - with London next in line.

Security at the world premiere across three theatres in LA was beefed up to an enormous level to prevent film details from leaking, but plenty happened on the red carpet, one of the best for years. Here's what the stellar cast got up to:

The originals Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill (Leia and Luke) made a beeline for one another

https://twitter.com/cinemito/status/676601851484217344

Then Harrison Ford got in on the act, and social media went mad for throwback snaps

https://twitter.com/shxrlocked/status/676638461709836288

Legendary Carrie Fisher may have been late to the first premiere (she was Tweeting her tardiness from the car), but she stole the show when she did finally arrive

https://twitter.com/TheWookieeRoars/status/676592843339595776

As for the newbies, John Boyega pulled off a purple suit - and gloves - with aplomb

https://twitter.com/JohnBoyega/status/676700019974516740

Daisy Ridley floated her way through with stunning elegance

https://twitter.com/Disney/status/676568856597413888

One of the biggest cheers went to C-3PO and R2D2

https://twitter.com/KnownGoodGeek/status/676772807750103040

Until Joseph Gordon-Levitt turned up dressed as Yoda - with Grinch pyjamas

https://twitter.com/varietyjl/status/676595185950703616

Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) was feeling the love and the Christmas spirit

https://twitter.com/TheWookieeRoars/status/676645081600778240

Naturally there was a Stormtrooper army - maybe Barack Obama was in one - he's a massive Star Wars fan...

https://twitter.com/IMDb/status/676567929467498496

Once the guests were seated, JJ Abrams reportedly opened the event to his mega, mega film with this opening line

https://twitter.com/benjaminkheng/status/676765713009250304

But it was Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy who delivered the tearjerker

https://twitter.com/EW/status/676753625981566977

And let's not forget the parents...

https://www.instagram.com/p/_SqRzSsCgb/?taken-by=john_boyega