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After months of secrecy and anticipation, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is thrilling fans and theater owners alike.

The most buzzed-about film of the year opened globally Thursday, setting international and presale box-office records and delighting moviegoers who've had opening-night tickets in hand for months.

The Walt Disney Co. is forecasting that "The Force Awakens" will make more than $100 million in North America on Friday and is headed for a weekend total beyond $200 million.

Disney says the new "Star Wars" film will possibly overtake the $208.8 million record of "Jurassic World" set in June, based on the robust box-office receipt of Friday matinees. A $100 million day would best the previous one-day high of $91.1 million, set by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

"The Force Awakens" has already set a new record for Thursday-night previews with an estimated $57 million from showings that began about 7 p.m. Thursday.

Kelly Andrews, who wears her love of "Star Wars" on her skin in the form of Yoda and R2-D2 tattoos, bought tickets in October for the first showing at Hollywood's classic TCL Chinese Theatre, where the original "Star Wars" premiered in 1977.

"It was outstanding," she said as she left the screening Thursday night clutching a shiny keepsake popcorn bin. "I cried happy tears. I cried sad tears. It was beautiful."

She was among thousands of devotees who praised the space saga's latest installment. The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans internationally. The American Film Institute listed it among its top 10 films of the year.

All over the world, "Star Wars" enthusiasts toted lightsabers and wore character costumes to packed opening-night showings of "The Force Awakens." They laughed and cheered and gasped together, illuminating their sabers in the theater during key scenes.

More than $100 million in tickets have been presold in North America. The movie ticket service Fandango said it has already sold more tickets for "The Force Awakens" than any movie over its entire theatrical run.

Not everyone in the opening-night audience was dazzled. Michael Danke of Los Angeles, who said his friend waited in line for 52 hours for their tickets, was disappointed.

"I was kind of looking forward to a futuristic, bitchin' movie, but it was an old 'Star Wars' movie," he said. "They did it old style."

That nostalgia worked for Tony Brennan, who said he "can't get off of that high that I'm on" after seeing the film with the opening-night crowd in Hollywood.

"It's definitely worth all the hype," he said. "I like how they bring back the old quotes and old scenery and old people. … It passed all of our expectations. I'm watching it five, six, seven more times."