The opening night of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" was one thing Jerry Walters wasn't going to miss.

Late Wednesday night, just minutes before Thursday's 12:01 a.m. opening of the movie, Walters sat in a packed theater at Valley View Grande. Walters, 24, had come dressed as character Darth Sidious but took the costume off when it became uncomfortable.

Early Thursday morning Valley View Grande was screening Episode III in 10 theaters, all of which were sold out, said manager Trent Jones. Jones said he couldn't say how many people had bought tickets. However, by Tuesday night theater workers had sold nearly 1,600 tickets.

The opening of a Star Wars movie may be one of the few times someone waiting in line for popcorn will see a young girl with horns on her head. Cassandra Crouch, 18, of Bedford County came to the Episode III opening dressed as a Zabrak, a creature which she said is not featured in Episode III but is the same species of former bad guy Darth Maul. She wore black, had several blue horns attached to her head and wore blue face make-up.

This is the third year Walters, of Roanoke County, has attended a Star Wars opening show. Walters didn't dress up in 1999 when he went to see "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," but was a storm trooper for the 2002 opening of "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones."

Walters said he doesn't want to miss "the excitement of it all. I've been a fan for so long."