box office
Film earnings measure
Box office refers to the place at a theater, stadium, or venue where tickets are sold: We picked up our tickets at the box office.
By extension, it measures commercial success in entertainment—especially film: The movie did well at the box office.
As a modifier, it describes earning power or appeal: box office hit, box office poison.
Counter selling admission passes
- theaterVenue for live drama
- cinemaMotion picture theater
- multiplexMulti-screen movie theater
- cashierTill operator
queue · lobby · marquee · usher · concession · auditorium · stalls · balcony
Total before subtractions
- earningsMoney gained from work
- receiptsTransaction documentation
- takingsMoney received, earnings
- proceedsRevenue from a transaction
returns · haul · opening weekend · worldwide gross · profit · collection · net · distributor
Counting and calculation symbols
- figuresNumerical values or forms
- rankingsOrdered list by performance
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- projectionsEstimates extending forward
estimates · opening weekend · holdover · legs · drop-off · admissions · attendance · footfall
Overwhelming popular success
- megahitEnormously successful release
- chart-topperSong at position one
- crowd-pleaserBroadly appealing entertainment
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
runaway hit · phenomenon · record-breaker · sleeper hit · must-see · tentpole · franchise
Complete commercial failure
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- bustFailure or sculpture
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- turkeyWattled North American fowl
dud · underperformer · write-off · money-loser · disaster
ticket window
Counter selling admission passes
cashier · queue · lobby · marquee · usher · concession · auditorium · stalls · balcony · foyer
gross
Total before subtractions
proceeds · returns · haul · opening weekend · worldwide gross · profit · collection · net · distributor · exhibitor
numbers
Counting and calculation symbols
- figuresNumerical values or forms
- rankingsOrdered list by performance
- trackingMonitoring location over time
projections · estimates · opening weekend · holdover · legs · drop-off · admissions · attendance · footfall · headcount
smash hit
Overwhelming popular success
- megahitEnormously successful release
- chart-topperSong at position one
- crowd-pleaserBroadly appealing entertainment
sellout · runaway hit · phenomenon · record-breaker · sleeper hit · must-see · tentpole · franchise
flop
Complete commercial failure
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- bustFailure or sculpture
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
turkey · dud · underperformer · write-off · money-loser · disaster
- film industryfilm studios, film production, film distribution, Hollywood, Bollywood
- HollywoodHollywood, Tinseltown, Hollywood Sign, silver screen, movie stars
- show businessactors, actresses, directors, producers, entertainers
- ticketingticket agent, ticket agents, ticket counter, ticket exchange, ticket refund
- box officegross, worldwide gross, opening weekend, earnings, receipts
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
box officecritical acclaim
Praise from reviewers
critical success · artistic merit · critical reception · critical darling · prestige
box officebox office bomb
Film losing significant money
flop · bomb · turkey · dud · direct-to-streaming
box officearthouse
Venue for noncommercial films
indie film · limited release · underground · avant-garde · experimental film
box, office, blockbuster, ticket sales, ticket booth, box-office, box offices