Anyone with a ticket for The Lord of the Rings trilogy screening is now keeping it close and calling it "precious", after the "One movie marathon to rule them all" sold out in a matter of hours.
From 10am to 10pm on August 30, LOTR fans dressed as hobbits, elves or wizards will be able to journey through Middle-earth like never before, and watch The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King screened back-to-back under the dome of Tūhura Otago Museum’s planetarium.
The films follow hobbit Frodo Baggins and his loyal companion Samwise Gamgee as they embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat its maker, the Dark Lord Sauron.
Museum marketing manager Charlie Buchan said staff were surprised how quickly tickets to the event sold out.
And of course, if you do not have a ticket, you shall not pass.
But worry not. Museum staff are hoping to run another LOTR marathon soon.
Mr Buchan said it was proving popular because it was not just a movie marathon, it was a pilgrimage.
"It's been over 20 years since the final film came out, but these movies still mean so much to so many people.
"This trilogy is part of Aotearoa’s cultural DNA. They helped put New Zealand, and especially Central Otago, on the global stage.
"So, what better way to honour that legacy than by watching them on the big screen, with fellow fans, snacks in hand, and 12 hours of pure movie magic."
Museum events manager and life-long Tolkien fan Rachel MacJeff said the setting could not be more perfect.
"As a massive LOTR nerd, I honestly couldn’t think of a better day.
"You’re in a comfy reclined seat, surrounded by other fans, watching this sweeping adventure unfold under our dome.
"It almost feels like you’re in the film, especially when those breathtaking New Zealand landscapes appear."
The event was a celebration of one of the greatest film trilogies of all time, she said.
"Whether you’re coming for nostalgia, the New Zealand pride, or simply to say you made it through all 12 hours with your fellowship intact, this is one adventure not to miss."
