blockbuster
Massive commercial success
A blockbuster is a hugely successful entertainment product—originally a film, now also books, video games, or other media that generate massive revenue: The movie was a summer blockbuster.
The term derives from World War II slang for bombs powerful enough to destroy a city block.
Blockbuster implies both commercial success and broad popular appeal, often with spectacular production values.
As an adjective, it describes anything enormously successful or impactful: a blockbuster deal, blockbuster sales.
Motion picture theater
- premiereFirst public performance
- trailerPromotional film excerpt
- sequelContinuation of prior work
- franchiseLicensed business operation
screening · multiplex · megaplex · director · producer · screenplay · boxoffice · soundtrack
Enormously successful release
- box-officeTheater's ticket-selling counter
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
- sensationPerceived stimulus or phenomenon
- record-breakerOne setting new highs
chart-topper · bestseller · crowd-pleaser · sell-out · triumph · breakthrough · award-winning · must-see
Lavish, elaborate entertainment
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
- spectacularStrikingly impressive to behold
- epicImpressively grand in scope
larger-than-life · high-budget · IMAX · 3D · surround-sound · jaw-dropping · explosive · set-piece
Prone to sudden detonation
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
- WWII1939-45 global conflict
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- wartimePeriod of armed conflict
blitz · ordnance · munition · detonation · RAF · Luftwaffe · unexploded · crater
cinema
Motion picture theater
franchise · screening · multiplex · megaplex · director · producer · screenplay · boxoffice · soundtrack · popcorn
megahit
Enormously successful release
- box-officeTheater's ticket-selling counter
- phenomenonExtraordinary observable occurrence
- sensationPerceived stimulus or phenomenon
record-breaker · chart-topper · bestseller · crowd-pleaser · sell-out · triumph · breakthrough · award-winning · must-see · watercooler
extravaganza
Lavish, elaborate entertainment
- grandeurImpressive splendor and scale
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
- spectacularStrikingly impressive to behold
epic · larger-than-life · high-budget · IMAX · 3D · surround-sound · jaw-dropping · explosive · set-piece · stunt
explosive
Prone to sudden detonation
- demolitionDeliberate structural destruction
- WWII1939-45 global conflict
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
wartime · blitz · ordnance · munition · detonation · RAF · Luftwaffe · unexploded · crater
- filmmovies, film, filmmaking, cinematography, film editing
- genresaction, comedy, detective fiction, fantasy, horror
- moviesfilm, Titanic, films, Jurassic Park, The Matrix
- summersummer, summertime, midsummer, summer solstice, solstice
- HollywoodHollywood, Tinseltown, Hollywood Sign, silver screen, movie stars
- action filmschase scene, car chase, explosion, stunt, shootout
blockbusterindie
Produced outside majors
independent film · low-budget film · microbudget · B-movie · limited release
blockbustercult classic
Obscure work with devoted fans
cult film · cult favorite · arthouse film · sleeper · acquired taste
- summer blockbusterHigh-grossing warm-season theatrical release
- blockbuster filmsCommercially dominant movies
- blockbuster albumHugely successful music release
- blockbuster drugExceptionally high-selling medication
- blockbuster tradeMassive player exchange
- blockbuster showHugely successful entertainment production