It was supposed to be a secret screening, but fans of the sci-fi film “The Hunger Games” flocked to a Chelsea theater Tuesday night with an appetite for star gazing.
The red carpet event at the School of Visual Arts Theatre was leaked on Twitter, drawing an unexpected crowd of admirers.
MOVIE REVIEW: ‘HUNGER GAMES’ IS A BULLS-EYE
Held at bay by barricades and private security, fans cheered wildly as stars of the film pulled up in black cars. Actress Jennifer Lawrence walked over to greet the throng that was kept outside the W. 23rd St. theater.
“I can’t stay long,” Lawrence told the crowd outside screaming her name.
The fleeting encounter left 16-year-old Daniela Nogina of Brooklyn dazzled.
RELATED: ‘HUNGER GAMES’ CHEAT SHEET
“She looks flawless! Oh my God!” Nogina said of Lawrence, who plays heroine Katniss Everdeen in the film about an apocalyptic America where teenagers are pitted against each other in death matches.
Before going into the theater, Lawrence, 21, wearing a green Calvin Klein miniskirt, told the Daily News she loved playing Katniss.
“Her willingness and her strength to stand up for something that is right when it’s not an easy thing to do,” Lawrence said.
PHOTOS: ‘HUNGER GAMES’ STAR JENNIFER LAWRENCE
Another star, Stanley Tucci, 51, who plays a flashy TV host in the film, said it was kind of odd being one of the older actor in a film targeting a mostly teen audience.
“I think they’re all excited, you know, that we’re in the film,” Tucci said of the young fans. “But we’re not getting mobbed, and it’s kind of perfect.”
Aussie heartthrob Liam Hemsworth, 22, prompted hysteria when he showed up.
“Liam! Liam! Over here,” shouted Simone Colson, 21, of Staten Island, who only got a wave from the actor who plays Gale Hawthorne in the film based on Suzanne Collins‘ bestselling young adult book.
Organizers of the screening, hosted by The Cinema Society and the Calvin Klein Collection, pleaded with media outlets to keep the event secret to avoid gawkers.
But Allison Ortiz, 22, of Manhattan said she heard about it on Twitter.
“I was the only one here for hours,” Ortiz said. “Then people started showing up.”
The movie, set for a national release on Friday, got a five-star review Tuesday from Daily News film critic Joe Neumaier, who called it “exciting and thought-provoking in a way few adventure dramas ever are.”
Earlier Tuesday, fans descended on Union Square by the hundreds, drawn by a craving to meet the stars of the movie scheduled to appear at the Barnes & Noble store at the northern end of the square.
Some fans camped out long before dawn, hoping to get into a special 8 p.m. event promoting the film and Collins’ wildly popular trilogy.
Fifteen-year-old Lauren Silver, who lives in Manhattan, admitted she skipped school to stand in line.
“We have doctors notes,” she said.
As Lauren spoke, she displayed the yellow wristband that guarantees she’ll get a chance to meet the movie stars when they finally arrive.
“It was so worth it,” said an exhausted Megan DeSarno of Floral Park, L.I. The 16-year-old brought her copy of the book and a magazine for stars of the movie to sign.
Fans of “The Hunger Games” descended on Union Square by the hundreds Tuesday, drawn by a craving to meet the stars of the much-anticipated movie.
A store spokeswoman said there were more than 1,000 fans at the event.
While Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and the other Hollywood stars weren’t expected to appear at the Barnes & Noble store at the northern end of the square until 8 p.m., hardcore fans began camping out long before dawn. By sunrise, a line several blocks long had formed — mostly excited teenagers who grew up reading the Suzanne Collins trilogy.
In the books, teenagers are pitted against each other in death matches. On E. 17th St., bugs were the adversary.
“There was a cockroach we got rid of,” said Jess Cruz, 18, of Jackson, N.J. “We covered the sewer grates with the cardboard so the bugs wouldn’t come up.”
The first person to get an autograph was Kaitlin Clutter, an 11-year-old New Jersey girl confined to a wheelchair by spina bifida.
“It was amazing, I read about them on the book and now I can see what they’re like right in front of my face.” “It’s so exciting, she (Lawrence)is so beautiful, she’s a perfect girl.”
With Edgar Sandoval, Ole Skaar and Jennifer H. Cunningham
