Along with Twilight franchise stars, the cast includes Lord of the Rings actors Sean Astin and Elijah Wood.

Cosplayers, or fans who dress up as characters from films and television shows, are what make the event truly spectacular. Some people will go to great lengths to make sure that their costumes are as precise and intricate as they can be.

Steve and Abi Easton, from Ardglass in County Down, customised a wheelchair and 3D-printed a crown to complete their Lord of the Rings characters Grma Wormtongue and the cursed Theoden, King of Rohan, costumes.

“It's an excuse to get dressed up and have fun,” Steve said.

“I have a whole wardrobe of costumes, and you need some reason to wear them where people won't think you're a bit odd.”

The sense of community, for Abi, is what keeps her coming back.

Many of the attendees are people I know. Like an opportunity to catch up and hang out, but with unique experiences, she explained.

Fan conventions like Comic Con have their beginnings in the 1930s.

Even today, yearly gatherings continue to take place, including the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and the Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference (Philcon).

With the popularity of shows like Star Trek and the expansion of role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, the industry experienced a boom in the 1960s and 1970s.

Previously occupied by farmers and their livestock at the Balmoral show, the Eikon centre's halls in Lisburn are now home to gaming tables, prop displays, and a wrestling ring.

According to the organisers, the centre saw 10,000 visitors on Saturday, and it reached similar numbers on Sunday.

Over 100,000 people can be found at the biggest Comic Cons in San Diego and London.