Hundreds of Twilight fans flocked to Cedar Rapids theatres

Some fans of the teenage vampire series “Twilight” had their thirst for a new movie installment quenched early Wednesday morning.

Hundreds of fans flocked to Galaxy 16 Cine, 5340 Council St. NE, for the midnight showing of “Eclipse.”

“This is the holiest of all holy days, that's how I feel about it,” said Amanda Beguim, 20, of Cedar Rapids, who waited in the theater's lobby for the midnight premiere. Beguim said the series, written by Stephenie Meyer, was a great love story.

Bella, the lead character in the movie, has to make decisions about love and friendship, all while living in a city where mysterious killings keep happening. That's according to the theater's brief description of the movie.

As part of a triple feature promotion some fans could watch the two previous “Twilight” films before the midnight showing of the new movie. Many people stood alongside a velvet rope and waited to watch “Twilight” and “New Moon.” Last November “New Moon” grossed around $26 million at its midnight release, which set a new record.

Chris Weber and Cher Delperdang, both of Manchester, passed the ticket taker around 7 p.m. to see their first film of the night. They made the six-hour commitment to the triple feature. They smiled on their way into the darkened theater, and were excited to escape into another chapter with Bella.

Meanwhile, others counted down to midnight outside of the 3,000 seat, 16-screen complex. A group of around 10 friends from Kennedy High School huddled together near the north entrance.

They marked their waiting spot with a Hawkeye blanket, and also plenty of snacks (Rold Gold Tiny Twists, Crazy Core Skittles and 52-ounce sodas). They prepared for a vampire story and joked around with each other.

And still more lined up for the event. “It's just fun to like camp out, you know,” said Taylor Ort, a student at Xavier High School.

Ort and two friends set up at the south entrance. They wanted to get the best seats in the house. One can buy a ticket in advance but that doesn't guarantee a great seat. The girls brought the “Twilight” books to read before the movie. “This is like my fifth time reading the series,” said Ort.

“Eclipse” is now playing at theaters across the country, including Galaxy 16 Cine. It is rated PG-13.