blockbuster

[ blok-buhs-ter ]

noun

1. an aerial bomb containing high explosives and weighing from four to eight tons, used as a large-scale demolition bomb.
2. a motion picture, novel, etc., especially one lavishly produced, that has or is expected to have wide popular appeal or financial success.
3. something or someone that is forcefully or overwhelmingly impressive, effective, or influential:

   The campaign was a blockbuster.

4. a real-estate speculator who practices blockbusting.

blockbuster

/ ˈblɒkˌbʌstə /

noun

1. a large bomb used to demolish extensive areas or strengthened targets
2. a very successful, effective, or forceful person, thing, etc
3. a lavish film, show, novel, etc, that proves to be an outstanding popular success

Word History and Origins

Origin of blockbuster¹

First recorded in 1940–45; block + buster

Example Sentences

The 2012 miniseries he co-starred in, Hatfields McCoys, was a ratings blockbuster for the History channel.

From The Daily Beast

Not only, in the rarest of cases, where there a female lead in a blockbuster action movie, but the damsel in distress was a dude.

From The Daily Beast

Cast Angelina Jolie in that role with Brad Pitt as the cave hubbie, and maybe we have a blockbuster in the making.

From The Daily Beast

Such standout performances have been rare: her big-screen blockbuster salvo, Batman Begins (2005), fizzled to nothing.

From The Daily Beast

On no other show would you see an A-list actor from a newly released blockbuster like Gone Girl getting fired up over Islam.

From The Daily Beast

We used to think that the B-17 was a huge plane, and the blockbuster it carried a huge load.

From Project Gutenberg

Our own blockbuster should get there before they fire again.

From Project Gutenberg