Maltese fans yesterday joined millions across the world in celebrating the release of the new Star Wars film, with the first new instalment in the beloved franchise since 2005 already breaking local box office records.

A packed midnight screening raised the curtain on The Force Awakens, which opens around the world today. Eden Cinemas said tickets for the screening had sold out in just 48 hours, almost a month before release. Since then, the cinema said, thousands more have purchased their tickets for the end-of-year blockbuster, which is expected to overtake Spectre and Fifty Shades of Grey to be the top film of the year locally.

Among the thousands of cinemagoers of all ages with a personal connection to the new release was Comic Con organiser Christopher Muscat, who has attended Star Wars conventions across the world and counts a meeting with Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher among his most treasured memories.

Mr Muscat was also responsible for arranging for an appearance at the last Comic Con by R2-D2 creator Tony Dyson, who lives in Gozo. “Star Wars was a part of my childhood; it got me interested in science fiction and comics so it was the gateway to everything I love today,” he said.