Opening night, also known as premiere, is the first night of a play, movie, or event. Alternative synonyms for this phrase include debut, initial showing, launch night, and first performance. The term "premiere" is derived from the French word for "first," and is often used to refer to the first showing of a film or play. An additional synonym for opening night is preview night, which is sometimes used for events that are open to a select audience before the official public opening. Regardless of the term used to describe it, opening night is an exciting and much-anticipated event that marks the beginning of something new.