Clooney was mobbed by fans who wanted pictures and autographs

Joined by Pitt's partner, Angelina Jolie, they signed autographs and posed for pictures on the red carpet.

The third film in the lucrative series, Ocean's Thirteen adds Hollywood legend Al Pacino to the all-star cast.

"He seemed to take notes well from each of us," Pitt told reporters ahead of the premiere. "He has a bright future."

The first film - Ocean's Eleven - took $450m (�226m) at the box office. Ocean's Twelve went on to make a further $363m (�182m).

Pitt and Damon have starred in the previous Ocean's films

Franchise regulars Andy Garcia and Don Cheadle return for the third film, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh.

All but Pacino turned up for the most packed media conference of the festival so far, which was as light-hearted and laid-back as the Ocean's films themselves.

Asked about whether there would be an Ocean's Fourteen, Clooney joked: "I want to do musicals. That's where my heart lies."

The cast lined up for a photocall on the French Riviera

The cast gave tongue-in-cheek responses to dispel any impression that Ocean's Thirteen aspired to the art-house cinema that was Cannes's trademark.

"This script, for instance, I think may go down in the history books as one of the great screenplays of all time," Clooney said.

"This film is basically a cry for peace."

Soderbergh won the prestigious Cannes Palme d'Or prize in 1989 with Sex, Lies and Videotape.