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Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and the cast of "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" gave a couple of kids an out-of-this-world experience ... granting them an AWESOME wish!!!

The Kids Wish Network flew out Addisyn, Ayden and their families to L.A. for the world premiere of one of the most highly-anticipated films in years. The kiddos walked the blue carpet earlier this week and soaked up the adoration of hardcore 'Star Wars' fans.

The best part ... Addisyn and Ayden got to meet the entire cast!!! From Harrison and Mark to Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Billy Dee Williams and director J.J. Abrams.

The little ones sported grins from ear to ear as they walked alongside the cast that also included droids C-3PO and R2-D2. When the meet and greet was over ... the kids headed inside the Dolby Theater where they were one of the few to watch the film before the rest of the world. When the film ended ... the kiddos ALSO hit up the afterparty!!!

Now that's one helluva experience ... and incredible work by the Kids Wish Network, which is an org dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with life-threatening conditions.

Jason Derulo's got his claws out, pushing back against critics who ain't feline fine about his new movie, "Cats" ... saying they don't know crap about making movies.

We got Jason in New York City and asked how the "Cats" cast is handling all the negative reactions to the movie adaptation. Ya might have heard -- it's been widely hailed ... an epic stinker.

Jason says critics' opinions don't carry weight ... because the folks giving the reviews have never made movies in their lives -- a classic defense.

Derulo tries to find a positive spin ... saying the Broadway production also opened to terrible reviews way back in the day, and look how that turned out! If you're not up on your theater stats ... "Cats" ran for 18 straight years in the U.S. ... a record at the time.

Jason says the visuals are so stunning -- hello, it's humans mixed with cats for goodness sake -- there's bound to be push back, and it's all part of the game when art defies norms.

Jason's got no problem ripping his critics, but the cat's got his tongue when it comes to his CGI penis, which is much smaller than the real deal.

Hollywood producers looking to accurately portray intelligence agencies in spy movies can find help in an unexpected place ... the freakin' CIA ... so says U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

We got the Congresswoman from Michigan on Capitol Hill Tuesday and asked the former CIA analyst about her favorite spy flick, and that's when she dropped a huge bombshell.

Slotkin tells us the CIA has an entire office dedicated to helping Hollywood understand and portray what really goes down between the Pentagon and American spies ... who knew?!?

Sounds like the partnership might have been in play for "Zero Dark Thirty" ... Slotkin says she really appreciated the film as a CIA and Pentagon alum because it at least attempted to be factually accurate -- unlike many movies which are not rooted in reality.

The world premiere of the ninth film in the main 'Star Wars' saga did not disappoint -- with epic entrances by everyone from Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley to Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill ... and, of course, their robotic and hairy friends.

Countless fans in cosplay lined up outside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood Monday night as Stormtroopers marched into the 'Rise of Skywalker' event, followed by beloved droids C-3PO and R2-D2.

Not to be outdone ... BB-8 rolled in with franchise newcomer D-O, an excitable little droid who looked very happy to be there. Of course, Chewbacca always steals the show when he shows up.

John Boyega, director J.J. Abrams and Billy Dee Williams were also at the premiere -- 'cause it ain't a party until Lando shows up. As for how the finale of the franchise's third trilogy was received -- cheers reportedly erupted throughout the screening, and the audience rose to its feet for a standing ovation after the credits rolled.

As we reported ... 'Star Wars' enthusiasts have camped out for days in Hollywood in anticipation of the world premiere event and its arrival to theaters Friday.

Chris Pratt came under heavy fire -- or at least his character did -- while filming scenes for his next movie ... and, spoiler alert, the star gets shot!!!

Chris and a few of his costars were filming Monday in Atlanta for the action sci-fi thriller, "The Tomorrow War" ... and this particular scene is intense! Chris gets pinned down during a gun battle, but he ain't too successful at escaping danger.

The video's pretty wild ... CP goes down in a heap. No way to tell if it's a fatal shot, but definitely looks like more than a flesh wound.

The plot for the movie, which also stars J.K. Simmons and Yvonne Strahovski, calls for some time travel, so don't worry ... we don't think we've blown the ending.

One thing's for sure ... Chris has gotta be grateful for the well-placed safety mat that cushioned his fall.

That's Hollywood, baby!!!

Kumail Nanjiani looks like a new man after months and months of training and a strict nutrition regiment, which he says was no walk in the park ... for him or his wife.

The actor -- most famous for scrawny physique in "Silicon Valley" and "The Big Sick" -- posted two shirtless photos showing his now-ripped torso, and he's clearly been working out. He's got a six pack, a toned chest and super veiny arms now. Perfect for his new role in Marvel's upcoming "Eternals" movie -- in which he plays one of the superheroes.

Kumail writes, "I never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are." He went on to say he wanted to transform himself after being cast in the "Eternals" flick, adding, "I would not have been able to do this if I didn’t have a full year with the best trainers and nutritionists paid for by the biggest studio in the world." That would be Disney, of course ... also Marvel.

The guy also kept it real about the process, copping to the fact that he gets why he never looked like this before ... it's a ton of work, and requires Mickey-like resources to maintain.

Kumail went on to shout out a bunch of trainers and nutritionists who helped him along his journey ... and also his wife for putting up with his endless bitching about training and dieting.

Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek and a ton of other A-listers have also been announced as cast members for the new hero saga. Looks like it's shaping up well so far.

'Star Wars' nerds are out in full force in anticipation of a new movie from a galaxy far, far away -- fans are setting up shop days before 'The Rise of Skywalker' drops in Hollywood -- in hopes of getting a glimpse of the stars at Monday's premiere.

Check out these pics of the huge line forming Monday morning outside the world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre ... there are children in line with their parents even though the movie doesn't come out until Thursday ... talk about dedication.

The fact moviegoers are lining up for the final film in this latest 'Star Wars' trilogy is pretty amazing ... not just because of the long, chilly wait they're in for -- you can see folks bundled up -- but also because the theater only offers reserved seating!!!

It's also possible the fans head home after Monday's premiere where celebs like Daisy Ridley, Billie Lourd, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Mark Hamill and more are slated to attend.

So, it's not like you actually need to get in line over 72 hours before 'Skywalker' drops to secure your seat inside Grauman's -- but these fans seem ready for the long haul, with chairs, blankets, and camping equipment balanced on all those famous concrete handprints.

We're guessing these nerds just like the idea of waiting around with their fellow 'Star Wars' fans and trying to be part of the historic release -- it's almost become a right of passage of sorts.

The Game knows he's walking a thin line when it comes to criticizing Oprah -- but says 50 Cent's got him thinking it's time to do a deep dive into who she targets with her documentaries.

We got Game out in L.A. and got his take on Fiddy calling out O ... claiming she's targeting famous black men accused of being sexual predators for her upcoming #MeToo documentary.

You gotta see Game's reaction ... he's seriously dumbfounded at the possibility Oprah's giving the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein a pass while putting Russell Simmons and Michael Jackson in her crosshairs.

The rapper threw out a wild theory about a possible "secret society" of the super-rich Oprah might belong to that demands she NOT target rich, powerful white men. Like we said, wild ... and Game emphasizes he doesn't know anything for sure.

Not yet, anyway. Check out the clip, and you'll get a better idea of what he's diving into this weekend.

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John gave a bunch of fans an evening that will trigger jealous rages across the country ... a "Grease" revival!!!

Olivia and John were front and center Friday night at the Meet 'n' Grease Sing-Along at the Coral Sky Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida.

They recreated their iconic characters, Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. And, they both look really good and sound really good!!!

So, check out the video ... 71-year-old Olivia sings "Hopelessly Devoted to You," and John sings "Sandy," and then joins the male chorus in "Greased Lightning'."

Olivia, as you know, has struggled in her battle with cancer, and she's always said John has been there for her during tough times.

Veteran actor Danny Aiello -- known for his scene-stealing supporting roles in many acclaimed movies since the '70s -- died Thursday night ... TMZ has learned.

According to his family ... Danny passed away at a medical facility in New Jersey where he was being treated for a sudden illness. We're told he suffered an infection related to his treatment. Danny's family had come to visit him Thursday, and we're told he died shortly after they'd left that evening.

Aiello, a native New Yorker, broke into movies in the early '70s by landing a small role in the Robert De Niro baseball drama, "Bang the Drum Slowly." He followed it up by playing Tony Rosato in "The Godfather: Part II" ... in which he delivered the famous line, "Michael Corleone says hello!"

Danny would go on to earn praise in several hit films in the '80s, like "Fort Apache the Bronx" with Paul Newman, "Once Upon a Time in America," "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Moonstruck" opposite Cher.

Billy Porter believes some of our most beloved stories need to change going forward to reflect changes in society, but he adds -- there's no need to cancel the original tales.

We got the "Pose" star in NYC -- who's set to step into the fairy godmother role in Disney's future, live-action "Cinderella" film -- and asked him about calling the reboot a movie "for the #MeToo era."

Billy tells us it's not a knock on the classic "Cinderella" or any of the other fairy-tales, it's just a statement about how things have evolved. He says it's time for remakes to reflect that.

As the Golden Globe-nominated actor puts it ... we're in a different place now.

Post Malone's already racking up hit songs and awards, but now he can hang his cowboy hat on something else -- getting shot at in a movie by a huge action star.

The "Circles" singer is getting deeper into the acting world, starring opposite none other than Jason Statham. Based on these pics from the set it looks like Jason's a cop trying to take down Posty.

They were filming Wednesday in L.A. on the set of a film directed by Guy Ritchie. Josh Hartnett also stars in the flick. This scene looked like a real run-and-gun shootout between Post and Jason.

The movie's plot follows a "cold and mysterious character working at a cash truck company" ... and it looks like Post's character has made the bold decision to mess with him.

This isn't Post's first acting role -- he's set to make his debut alongside Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming Netflix movie, "Wonderland." He also has a voice credit in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," which he also contributed to with his hit song "Sunflower."

Post and Swae Lee just performed the soundtrack hit at GQ's after-party last week, and he got pretty sentimental about it.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Kevin Hart and the cast of 'Jumanji' made one helluva an entrance for their premiere ... riding dune buggies down Hollywood Boulevard!!!

Dwayne was behind the wheel and Kevin was riding shotgun Monday night as they weaved through Hollywood before ultimately ending up at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Also riding along were Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas and Golden Globe nominee Awkwafina.

Leave it to The Rock to rock the hell out of a blue suit with metallic gold roses. Seriously, no one else can pull that off.

His longtime companion and new wife, Lauren Hashian, joined him at the premiere looking every bit like a superstar herself. Dwayne's mom, Ata Johnson, also attended.

But, when it came time to strike a pose ... Jack Black blew them all away with tons of karate kicks, jumping, pointing and flipping his hair. Where does he get the energy? Nvm, don't answer that.

Rian Johnson is just like the rest of us when it comes to the new 'Star Wars' movie ... he hasn't seen it yet, despite him directing its predecessor in the series.

The filmmaker opened up to us this weekend in NYC about whether he'd gotten any sort of sneak peak ahead of 'The Rise of Skywalker' hitting theaters later this month. As it turns out ... he hasn't! No special treatment for the guy who manned 'The Last Jedi,' it seems.

It's NBD to Rian though -- he tells us he's looking forward to watching it in theaters for the first time like everyone else. Interestingly, he also says he hopes it's the best one ever.

Now, on to a much more serious topic we absolutely needed Rian to weigh in on ... is Baby Yoda actually cuter than those damn puppy-eyed Porgs??? John Boyega sure thought so.

Check out RJ's answer ... he's noncommittal at first on which one is truly more adorable -- almost like a parent who doesn't wanna compare their kids -- but he finally caves and chooses sides. His choice might not surprise you, or anyone who's watched 'Mandalorian.'

Ryan Reynolds put his action hero skills to use this weekend in Brazil -- where he was almost flattened by a barricade that gave way to a massive swarm over overzealous fans.

The actor was in Sao Paulo Saturday for CCXP 2019, a comic con event which had some heavy hitters from the States on hand to plug their new movies. Ryan was promoting "Free Guy," while J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley and the rest of the 'Star Wars' crew were there to hype up 'The Rise of Skywalker.' MCU heads were there too ... a Disney love fest, basically.

Anyway, while Ryan was making his way down the stage platform, he hopped off to say hello to the front row fans ... seemingly wanting to shake hands and meet them face-to-face.

Well, that backfired pretty quickly ... because the barricade toppled over -- sending everyone who was reaching over straight to the ground ... and Ryan flying back himself. Gotta say, the dude's got great reflexes -- guess that's why they pay him the big bucks, huh?

All kidding aside ... it was a pretty freak moment that could've possibly injured Ryan. Good guy that he is though, he stuck around appeared to hop down and attempted to help. BTW, based on other videos, it looks like something similar happened on the other side as well.

No one seemed to be seriously injured in the ordeal, and the event reportedly carried on as scheduled. Still, a note to the tech crew ... get a stronger barriers, or move people back.

Clint Eastwood is apparently a dear to work with ... so says the director's latest leading man, Paul Walter Hauser.

We got the actor Saturday in NYC, and he dished on what it was like working with Clint on his new movie "Richard Jewell" -- which documents the scandal surrounding the real-life security guard who found a bomb ... and then got accused of being the drop man.

PWH says he had a great time on set with with Clint, telling us the dude's a straight up sweetheart -- an ego-less one that. Plus, he's a freakin' icon ... that's a given.

We also ask Paul if it was intimidating to work with someone of that caliber, and surprisingly ... he says it wasn't, even if it should've been. That's interesting, considering what more seasoned actors have said about CE, which is pretty much the exact opposite.

Tom Hanks famously said in 2016 that Clint "treats his actors like horses" in the sense that he wrangles everyone up as needed, and was seemingly a bit of a hard ass on set.