The wait is over for Star Wars fans across the globe as the ninth and final chapter in the Skywalker saga is here.
The Rise of Skywalker had its world premiere in Hollywood this week and Auckland on Wednesday staged the Rise of SkyWalk.
It wasn't just the 100km/h winds that were strong on Auckland's Sky Tower - so was The Force.
A scary 328m above Auckland, members of New Zealand's 501st Legion braved the high winds and their even greater fear of heights.
Storm Troopers have always had a questionable instinct for survival, but today it was hard to argue with their choice to watch on from relative safety.
From Auckland's SkyWalk to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, hardcore Star Wars fans have been camping out ahead of the world premiere.
The passion,loyalty and wallets of those fans have kept this gazillion dollar franchise alive for more than four decades.
"The movie is about good versus evil, the light side and the dark side," actor John Boyega said at the premiere.
"Throw in some villains like Palpatine and Kylo Ren. And throw in our heroes like Rey, Finn, Poe. And you have yourselves a space opera."
It's a space opera and through the magic of the movies it still has its princess. The late Carrie Fisher lives on as Leia, writer/director JJ Abrams used footage shot on The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi to include her in his Skywalker finale.
"It's heart breaking that she's not here tonight," noted Abrams.
"Had she been in the movie, had she been with us still, of course we would've done more with her than we did. But we had the opportunity to use footage and allow her to be part of this."
New Zealand audiences will be the first in the world to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which opens in sold out screenings across the country at midnight.
