Knoxville rolled out the red carpet for the premiere of the highly anticipated movie “The Last Movie Star” which was shot in East Tennessee.

Hundreds came to the Tennessee Theatre for the premiere. Burt Reynolds was the most popular visitor.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’ve got a bad leg and a bad elbow, but other than that I’m feeling good,” he said.

Reynolds plays an aging actor who was once Hollywood’s biggest star and returns to his hometown to accept an award. It’s a film based largely on his real life.

“You know, I didn’t realize that until about halfway through the movie and I went holy… this is a little bit too close to the bone,” said Reynolds.

Some of Knoxville’s iconic places are featured in the movie like Neyland stadium and Market Square. With a bucket of popcorn, some moviegoers were excited to see their hometown and even themselves on the big screen.

“It was wonderful working with him. He’s such a professional and such a gentleman,” said Kathy with Boys’ Night Out band.

There was overwhelming praise for this sweet drama. Most appreciated how Knoxville was portrayed.

The movie will hit theaters nationwide on Friday. It will play at the AMC Classic Knoxville 16 starting April 13. 

It is already available on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as on a variety of streaming services including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Fandango.