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Jennifer Lopez almost didn't wear her 'Unstoppable' premiere dress (exclusive)

The stunning dress worn by Jennifer Lopez Unstoppable World premiere almost stayed at home!

A visit to the PEOPLE/Weekly entertainment A day after the sports biopic's Sept. 6 premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Lopez, 55, told PEOPLE why she ultimately decided to wear the revealing dress — a sparkling silver Tamara Ralph gown with head-to-toe side slits held together with oversized bows — on the town.

She simply tells PEOPLE: “I felt good.”

“There was a discussion about whether I should do it or not. And I just thought: screw it,” she laughs about the dress.

Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of “Unstoppable” at TIFF 2024.

Cindy Ord/Getty


After walking the red carpet, the “On the Floor” singer gave her fans an even closer look at the stunning look on Instagram, showcasing it from multiple angles.

“📍Toronto #TIFF2024 #UnstoppableMovie,” she wrote alongside a post, followed by another with the simple caption “Unstoppable.”

The actress followed up her stunning premiere look, which she completed with a metallic Judith Leiber clutch, Hassanzadeh jewelry and Dolce & Gabbana platform shoes, with a more understated, monochrome ensemble.

Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of “Unstoppable” at TIFF 2024.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty


On Saturday, September 7, Lopez returned to the festival (and stopped by PEOPLE's photo studio!) in an all-green look by Burberry—including the brand's leather Saddle High Boots, an olive sweater, and a knee-high pleated maxi skirt in a slightly more muted hue.

While presenting the rather understated, autumnal outfit, which she combined with brown sunglasses, gold jewelry and a snakeskin handbag, the star shared a sweet message on Instagram about the Unstoppable Premiere – which was also her first major public appearance since filing for divorce from her husband Ben Affleck on August 20.

“Still pumped up from last night at #TIFF2024! It was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by so much talent and passion for #UnstoppableMovie,” she captioned the post. “Grateful for every moment and the incredible energy of the city.”

Also at TIFF, Lopez compared the premiere of William Goldenberg’s Unstoppable — which was produced by Affleck and his longtime pal Matt Damon — until the premiere of their film in 2019 Hustlers.

She told PEOPLE about the festival’s famous screening room, the Roy Thomson Hall: “I feel like that room is a happy place for me now because I remember sitting there and watching Hustlers in those seats… and thought, 'Wow, this movie works.'”

She admitted that the 2019 film – in which she plays stripper and con artist Ramona Vega – had “a slightly different vibe” than Unstoppableshe continued: “With films like this, you never know, it could go either way.”

“It was a really good feeling to be back with this film, and it's a completely different kind of film,” she added.

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An adaptation of the book of the same name by Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy. Unstoppable tells the story of real wrestler Robles (Jharrel Jerome).

Robles was born with one leg and won an NCAA national championship at Arizona State University in 2011. Lopez plays the athlete's mother, Judy, in the film.