The film - which has already smashed box-office records in the US - will be released in the UK at 0001 BST on 15 July - a day earlier than previously planned.

Chains including Warner Village Cinemas and Virgin are now waiting for clearance from distributors 20th Century Fox to show Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace after months of negotiations.

Virgin Cinemas marketing manager Jonathan Kirkley said: "We are anticipating an unprecedented demand and we have made this move to ensure we are in the best position to show the optimum number screenings to meet with customer demand in each region."

A spokeswoman for Warner Village Cinemas said: "24-hour opening makes sense because the demand is unprecedented and there will be huge queues otherwise.

"We have been inundated with phone calls from people who are desperate to find out what the screening arrangements are."