tentpole
Campsite structural beam
A tentpole is one of the vertical poles that hold up a tent.
In entertainment industry jargon, a tentpole is a major production—typically a blockbuster film—that supports a studio's financial structure the way a pole supports a tent: The franchise is the studio's summer tentpole.
As an adjective, tentpole describes such productions: tentpole releases, tentpole strategy.
Licensed business operation
- sequelContinuation of prior work
- summerYear's warmest season
- boxofficeTheater's sales counter
- megahitEnormously successful release
superhero · studio · release · IMAX · spectacle · star-studded · budget · gross
Secures ships to seabed
- flagshipCommander's principal vessel
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- centerpieceDecorative table focal point
- mainstayPrimary source of support
keystone · linchpin · showcase · headline · signature · marquee · premier · programming
Posts or wagers
- ropesBraided flexible cords
- guylineTent-anchoring cord
- pegWooden pin for fastening
- canopyOverhead protective covering
shelter · fabric · tarpaulin · groundsheet · awning · waterproof · portable · collapsible
Organized public celebration
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- expoLarge public display event
- galaFestive formal occasion
convention · symposium · flagship · annual · signature · headliner · showcase · attraction
franchise
Licensed business operation
megahit · superhero · studio · release · IMAX · spectacle · star-studded · budget · gross · premiere
anchor
Secures ships to seabed
- flagshipCommander's principal vessel
- cornerstoneFoundational building block
- centerpieceDecorative table focal point
mainstay · keystone · linchpin · showcase · headline · signature · marquee · premier · programming · scheduling
stakes
Posts or wagers
canopy · shelter · fabric · tarpaulin · groundsheet · awning · waterproof · portable · collapsible · aluminum
festival
Organized public celebration
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- expoLarge public display event
gala · convention · symposium · flagship · annual · signature · headliner · showcase · attraction · draw
- televisionTV, television, broadcast, TV shows, TV series
- blockbustersAvengers, Harry Potter, Finding Nemo, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man
- box officebox office, gross, worldwide gross, opening weekend, ticket sales
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
- TV lingoon air, off air, showrunner, cliffhanger, cue
- entertainment businessrecording contract, movie deal, book deal, development deal, talent deal
tentpoletent fabric
Outdoor shelter covering
canvas · tent stake · guy line · ground sheet · groundsheet
tentpolefiller
Substance closing gaps
B-movie · programmer · throwaway · also-ran · afterthought
tentpolelow-budget film
Cheaply made motion picture
loss leader · tax write-off · micro-budget · flop · cheapie
- tentpole movieMajor studio revenue pillar
- tentpole filmHigh-budget guaranteed earner