"I never thought I'd shut down Hollywood Boulevard," Perry said from a temporary stage set up on the closed-off street.
"I told them I wanted to do something special," she told a crowd of fans estimated at 5,000. "I hope this is special enough."
Perry performed hit songs such as Firework, Teenage Dream and I Kissed a Girl while stars Selena Gomez and Victoria Justice danced and mouthed the words from the crowd. Later Justin Bieber arrived to escort Gomez into the Grauman's Chinese Theater for the first public showing of the concert film.
The solo Perry walked a bright pink carpet at the premiere wearing a red velvet Dolce & Gabbana dress. She talked about the joys of unveiling the behind-the-scene film that deals with her world tour -- one that saw her reach new heights of popularity (while simultaneously breaking up with husband Russell Brand).
"I have had a little bit of a tummy turn today," Perry told USA Today. "It's overwhelming. I shut down Hollywood Boulveard today. Five years ago I was asking to borrow money from my little brother."
The film also shows a different side to Perry -- one which shows the pop princess without make-up in many scenes and crying her eyes out due to her relational problems in others. Perry says this truthful approach to her story allows her fans to see the real person behind the star.
"You wouldn't be able to recognize me on the street, I look that bad," she said from the pink carpet of the movie. "It wasn't necessarily glamorous. But it's nice to break down the wall of perfection."
(Copyright © 2012 USA TODAY)