LAKE PLACID – The wait is finally over, and the Jedi have returned.

After decades of anticipation, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opened Thursday night at the Palace Theatre in Lake Placid and the Adirondack State Theater in Tupper Lake. While both drew large crowds for their 7 p.m. screenings, they atrracted fewer people than expected; they packed their auditoriums but didn’t sell out. Still, new and old fans alike flocked to the cinemas to experience the latest chapter in a story that has captivated billions.

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Are we ready?

Siblings Katie and Kevin Morgan of Saranac Lake were the first people in line at the Palace Theatre Thursday.

“We got here at 7 a.m.,” Katie said. “We were a little excited.”

Katie, dressed as Princess Leia, and Kevin, dressed as Anakin Skywalker, came prepared with chairs, umbrellas, a table, food, beverages and puzzles. They endured cool temperatures and intermittent showers during their 11-hour stint in line. Their friend Tom Graham, also of Saranac Lake, joined them around noon.

“I got here at 12 because I saw them here at 8:30 and was like, ‘Wow – I’ve got to get there,'” Graham said.

While their marathon wait is remarkable, the fact that Katie and Kevin purposely avoided the maelstrom of press surrounding the film’s debut is even more impressive, a rare feat given the movie’s omnipresence the past few months. Asked if he thought it would be as good as the original trilogy, Kevin answered, “I sure hope so. I’m just excited to see ‘Star Wars.'”

At 3:30 p.m., the three were the only people waiting, but by 5:45 p.m., the line had extended half a block to Riley’s North on Mirror Lake Drive.

At 7 p.m., Heather Clark, granddaughter of Palace Theatre owners Reginald and Barbara Clark, greeted the audience with a question.

“Are we ready?” she asked, drawing loud cheers and applause from the crowd. “Let’s get this show on the road!”

Members of the crowd cheered as soon as the familiar notes of the saga’s theme rang through the air. Applause erupted several times during the screening and at the close of the film, indicating the audience seemed to agree that the Force was strong with this one.

Although Clark thought the first show would sell out, she was pleased with the turnout.

“I think the weather hurt the first show,” she said, referring to Thursday’s rain.

She said she thoroughly enjoyed the film.

“I think (director J.J. Abrams) did as well as Disney would let him,” she said. “It’s definitely a good one.”

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In Tupper?Lake

While the first show at the Adirondack State Theater didn’t sell out either, owner Sally Strasser was pleased with the turnout.

“I did really, really well,” she said. “It went beautifully.”

The theater opened up both of its auditoriums for the event, showing the film in both 2D and 3D. Strasser said the theater gave free popcorn to anyone who came in costume.

“Today was such a fun day,” she said. “It’s a good day for film today.”