New Star Wars gets US premieres
Celebrities and fans have paid up to $500 (£268) for a ticket to attend premieres of the new Star Wars film, Revenge of the Sith, across the US.
The final prequel premiered in 10 US cities, with stars attending screenings in LA, New York and Washington DC.
Director George Lucas, who attended the screening in San Francisco, said he was "relieved" the film saga had concluded and he could "do other things".
"It's been 30 years of my life, so it's a lot of time," he said on Thursday.
The film-maker said he planned to return to experimental films.
Mark Hamill first played the role of Luke Skywalker aged 26
Stars at the New York event included Samuel L Jackson, who plays Jedi Master Mace Windu and fellow Jedi Master, Liam Neeson, who played Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
Frank Oz, the voice of Yoda, also attended the charity screening at New York's Ziegfeld Theater.
Star Wars icon Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the first three films, was greeted by screaming fans at the Mann Village Theater in Los Angeles.
Also at the screening in LA was Frasier star Kelsey Grammar, who said he auditioned for the original role of Han Solo in the first Stars Wars film.
"I met Mr Lucas when I was 19 years old," said Grammer. He said Lucas told him: "We're going to do a fairy tale in space."
Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the original trilogy, was joined by her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, at the premiere in Washington DC.
All proceeds from the screenings will go to charity, with recipients including The Children's Heath Fund and Artists for a New South Africa.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith goes on general release across the US and the UK on 19 May.
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