Jennifer Lopez Says Her Daring Silver Unstoppable Premiere Dress Almost Didn't Happen (Exclusive)

The head-turning gown Jennifer Lopez wore to the Unstoppable world premiere almost stayed at home!

Stopping by the PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly suite the 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 tied together with oversized bows — out on the town.

Put simply, she tells PEOPLE, “I felt good.”

“There was a discussion about whether I should or shouldn't. And I was like, f--- it,” she laughs of the gown.

After walking the red carpet, the “On the Floor” singer gave fans an even closer look at the show-stopping look on Instagram, showing it off from several angles.

"📍Toronto #TIFF2024 #UnstoppableMovie," she wrote alongside one post, which she followed up with another simply captioned, “Unstoppable.”

The actress followed the dazzling premiere look — which she rounded out with a metallic Judith Leiber clutch, Hassanzadeh jewelry and Dolce & Gabbana platforms — with a more subdued, monochrome ensemble.

On Saturday, Sept. 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 pleated maxi skirt with a high-knee slit in a slightly more muted shade.

While showing off the more understated, fall-forward outfit, which she accessorized with brown sunglasses, gold jewelry and a snakeskin handbag, on Instagram, the star shared a sweet message about the Unstoppable premiere — which also marked her first major public appearance since filing for divorce from husband Ben Affleck on Aug. 20.

"Still on a high from last night at #TIFF2024! It was such an incredible experience being surrounded by so much talent and passion for #UnstoppableMovie,” she captioned the post. “Grateful for every moment and the amazing energy of the city.”

Also at TIFF, Lopez compared the premiere of William Goldenberg-directed Unstoppable — which was produced by Affleck as well as his longtime pal Matt Damon — to the 2019 premiere of her film Hustlers.

Speaking about the festival's famed Roy Thomson Hall screening venue, she told PEOPLE, “I feel like that room has a good luck room for me now, because I remember sitting there watching Hustlers in those seats… and thinking, ‘Wow, this movie works.’ ”

Acknowledging that the 2019 film — in which she plays stripper-turned-scammer Ramona Vega — had “a little bit different vibe” from Unstoppable, she continued, “Those types of movies, you never know, it could go either way.”

"So to be back here with this movie and it's a very different kind of movie, it was a really good feeling,” she added.

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An adaptation of Anthony Robles and Austin Murphy’s book of the same name, Unstoppable tells the story of real-life wrestler Robles (Jharrel Jerome).

Robles was born with one leg and won an NCAA national championship in 2011 while at Arizona State University. Lopez stars in the film as the athlete’s mom, Judy.