From ice sculptures to fan conventions, Star Wars mania is in full swing

There has been an awakening... Have you felt it?

Yes, fans have been waiting anxiously for the latest instalment of the sci-fi franchise.

The excitement surrounding the global phenomenon was felt on a galactic scale when Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered on Thursday.

The space bug proved to be extremely contagious as Star Wars enthusiasts around the world geeked out.

Everything just had to have a Star Wars theme.

AROUND THE WORLD

At the annual ice sculpture festival in Liege, Belgium, the theme this year centred around the characters from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

Visitors to the Ice Magic Festival got to enjoy the sight of dozens of Star Wars characters carved out tirelessly by 30 artists from 12 countries.

In the US, fans gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Friday night for a lightsaber battle.

Fighters from the "light side" battled fighters from the "dark side" in a mock combat at Pershing Square.

Even little Jedi and Sith joined in the fun.

In Manchester, England, a toddler was dressed as an Ewok at the 'For The Love of The Force' fan convention (left).

The film was unveiled to much fanfare and is expected to have a prodigious payoff at the box office.

Reports say the film - the seventh instalment of the George Lucas-created series - has raked in a global total of almost US$130m (S$183.6m) so far.

All this prior to what is predicted to be a potential record-breaking weekend, giving the J.J. Abrams production a shot at having the "biggest opening weekend of all time".

Disney - which bought the rights to Star Wars after CEO Robert Iger moved in to acquire Lucasfilm in 2012 - revealed on Friday night that the film will likely rake in at least US$225m in the US.