first run

noun

, Movies.

1. the initial exhibition period for a film.

Other Words From

• first-run adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of first run¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Sort of a sandwich that's filled with first-run fare rather than repeats.

From The Daily Beast

This extravagant borrowing funds a steakhouse, outdoor hot tubs, a first-run movie theater, and a roaming ice-cream truck.

From The Daily Beast

Only first-run movies were shown there, and people dressed up to attend them.

From The Daily Beast

And, say, I've got a thousand feet of film that's simply going to knock 'em cold at the first-run houses.

From Project Gutenberg