block booking

noun

1. a practice among motion-picture distributors of contracting with an exhibitor to show a predetermined series of films.

Word History and Origins

Origin of block booking¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

But James Strachan KC, for the Home Office, said block booking rooms "does not change its use as a hotel".

Read more on BBC

"I think between the various teams and the fact we're now block booking for Sundays, we're going to be hitting almost £10,000 this year," said Mr Hedges.

Read more on BBC

And when a major venue announces its next block booking, what do we call it?

Read more on New York Times

The resulting consent decree barred studios from also owning theaters and imposed other restrictions like an end to “block booking,” which forced theaters to book slates of films in advance.

Read more on The Verge

But this block booking has cost about £400 million a month, whether or not the facilities were used.

Read more on BBC