blockbuster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, journalistic, marketing. Common in media and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “blockbuster” mean?
An extremely successful and popular thing, especially a film, book, or show.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An extremely successful and popular thing, especially a film, book, or show.
Originally a powerful explosive bomb from WWII. In modern usage, refers to anything (product, event) that achieves massive commercial success, often involving large budgets, major marketing, and widespread appeal. Can also describe a large, significant event or discovery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. The term originated in American English but is equally common in British English.
Connotations
Identical connotations of large-scale commercial success.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media discourse, but very common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “blockbuster” in a Sentence
[adjective] + blockbusterblockbuster + [noun (film, deal, etc.)]be/becomes a blockbusterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blockbuster” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The film is predicted to blockbuster at the UK box office this weekend.
- They hope to blockbuster their way into the market.
American English
- The studio wants to blockbuster the holiday season with its new release.
- The new game is set to blockbuster when it drops next month.
adverb
British English
- The film opened blockbusteringly well across Europe.
American English
- The product performed blockbusteringly in its first quarter.
adjective
British English
- It was a blockbuster weekend for cinema admissions.
- The museum's blockbuster Tutankhamun exhibition drew huge crowds.
American English
- The team made a blockbuster trade before the deadline.
- We're planning a blockbuster marketing campaign for the launch.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a product launch or deal that generates exceptionally high revenue. 'The pharmaceutical company's new drug was a blockbuster.'
Academic
Rare. May be used in media/cultural studies to analyse the 'blockbuster' as a commercial phenomenon.
Everyday
Primarily used to talk about popular films, TV series, or books. 'We went to see the new superhero blockbuster.'
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside of its original military context, which is now historical.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blockbuster”
- Using it for any successful thing (it implies *massive*, mainstream success). Confusing it with 'best-seller' (which is specific to books). Spelling: *blockbluster, *blockbaster.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most commonly used for films, it can refer to any product, event, or deal of massive commercial success (e.g., a blockbuster drug, a blockbuster exhibition, a blockbuster trade in sports).
Primarily positive, denoting great success. However, in critical discourse, it can have a slightly negative connotation, implying something is overly commercial, formulaic, or lacking artistic depth.
It originates from World War II, referring to a powerful aerial bomb capable of destroying an entire city block. This metaphorical sense of massive impact was later applied to hugely successful films in the 1970s.
No, the verb form is very rare and considered informal or jargonistic (mainly in business/marketing contexts). The noun and adjective forms are standard.
An extremely successful and popular thing, especially a film, book, or show.
Blockbuster is usually informal, journalistic, marketing. common in media and business contexts. in register.
Blockbuster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblɒkˌbʌstə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblɑːkˌbʌstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A blockbuster of a [film/book/deal]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a film so successful it BLOCKS the queues for other movies and BUSTS box office records.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS IS AN EXPLOSION (from its bomb etymology). A SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT IS A LARGE, POWERFUL ENTITY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is LEAST likely to be described as a 'blockbuster' in modern usage?