Movie theaters were filled with Katniss Everdeen look-alikes and preteen fangirls wearing homemade ‘Team Peeta’ or ‘Team Gale’ shirts for the long-awaited premiere of “Mockingjay: Part 1”.

Like the premieres of the film’s two prequels, lines began forming as early as four hours in advance. For some, a good seat is vital to get the most out of a late night premiere.

At the Edwards Theater in San Marcos, the line for the 8 p.m. showing last night started outside, and had already wrapped around the side of the building by 6 p.m., two hours before the movie started. Makeshift camps with blankets and restaurant to-go bags covered the pavement.

By 6:30 p.m., the movie theater opened, and the line of waiting fans trickled through the doors and made their way towards the pre-placed line dividers right outside the auditorium. By this point, people were bringing in food from restaurants in the area to eat in line for dinner. With a theater full of determined (and sometimes obsessed) fans, movie theater employees did’nt even bother trying to stop people.

As time passed, the line outside the theater doors grew bigger and bigger. Around 6:55 p.m., a girl who thought she was early and would get her first pick of seats exclaimed, “What the hell? How early do these people come?” when she saw the ever-growing line.

Finally, at around 7 p.m., the doors to the auditorium finally opened. People had to make a decision: walk briskly and look calm and composed, or sprint as fast as possible towards the best seats still open. Fortunately, I was close enough to the beginning of the line that I didn’t have to choose the latter.

For the next hour, the few seats that were still open slowly filled up with late-comers who had obviously never been to a premiere before. The auditorium was busy and loud, as people went to buy food or use the bathroom after claiming their seat. At around 7:50 p.m., half the auditorium took one last bathroom break, because going during the movie was not an option.

The movie finally started at 8 p.m.; that is, the previews started. Every time a new preview started, a collective sigh could be heard. Once the Lionsgate logo finally came on the screen though, the auditorium was drop dead quiet.

The movie’s two prequels, “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire,” were both huge successes in 2012 and 2013 respectively. They each raked in over $408 million dollars within a few months of their release dates. And, according to people’s opinion of the movie so far, “Mockingjay: Part 1” should have just as much success.

Seeing as though most people think that the book version of “Mockingjay: Part 1” was the most boring part of the series, Lionsgate had a difficult job of turning it into a movie that was actually worth seeing. But I can safely say that they did a great job with it, and the events in the movie didn’t drag on like they did in the book. Also, the fact that “Mockingjay” will be split into two movies allows the producers to include every important scene and exact book quotes, much to the appreciation of book fans.

“Mockingjay: Part 1” will be a great movie to watch over Thanksgiving break. Just remember: it’s a popular movie, and unless you get there a bit early, you’ll have to sit in one of those horrible front row seats.