runaway hit
Unexpected massive success
A runaway hit is an enormous, unexpected success—a book, song, film, or product that far exceeds expectations and dominates its market: The low-budget horror film became a runaway hit.
The runaway suggests something that has broken free of control, gaining momentum on its own.
- blockbusterEnormously successful entertainment property
- smashBreak violently apart
- sensationPerceived stimulus or phenomenon
- viralSpreading quickly online
- word of mouthInformation passed through conversation
chart-topper · number one · phenomenon · cultural phenomenon · bestseller · megahit · breakout · overnight · success · took off · craze · wildfire · explosive · trending · mainstream · mass appeal · platinum · sold-out
- box officebox office, gross, worldwide gross, opening weekend, ticket sales
- Hitssmash, megahit, chart-topper, number-one
- book termsfolio, quarto, octavo, duodecimo, page
- chartspie chart, line graph, line chart, bar graph, scatter plot
- money slangbucks, dough, moolah, cheddar, cash
- crowd pleaserscrowd pleaser, encores, crowd favorite, standing ovations, fan favorite
runaway hitflop
Complete commercial failure
bomb · box office bomb · disaster · dud · turkey
runaway hitdead on arrival
Lifeless upon reaching destination
underperformer · obscurity · also-ran · non-starter · disappointment
run, away, hit, runs, running, runner, runners, hits, hitting