blockbuster

American  

[blok-buhs-ter] / ˈblɒkˌbʌs tər /

noun

• blockbusters
  plural

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.

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blockbuster British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• blockbusters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of blockbuster

First recorded in 1940–45; block + buster

Explanation

A blockbuster is a Hollywood movie that's made with a large budget and big stars. A true blockbuster is extremely popular and brings in a lot of money. Typically, a blockbuster is a fabulous summer movie that audiences line up to see the first weekend it's released. You can also call a successful play or a new, popular video game a blockbuster. Less, often, a huge bomb is a blockbuster — this is the word's original, 1940s meaning, from the fact that such a bomb could destroy an entire city block. The entertainment meaning, from the 1950s, began as theater slang.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

blockbuster blockbusters

A particularly egregious example that my husband loves to revisit happened after we had just gotten out of an advance screening of “Avengers: Endgame,” the 2019 blockbuster.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

After swinging from victory to victory, the Tom Holland and Zendaya-led blockbuster caught second place this weekend, bringing in another $8.4 million, for a global total of $2.45 billion over its seven weeks in cinemas.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

The trade for star edge rusher Myles Garrett was a blockbuster move that made the Rams the Super Bowl favorite.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

If the seven-time major winner comes through that blockbuster clash, he will face either Tiafoe or Michelsen in the semi-finals.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Imagine a blockbuster movie about a world united in battle against Nazi oppression.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

These drugs are highly complex medicines manufactured inside living cells and often end up being multibillion-dollar blockbusters for drug companies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

The film industry rode blockbusters like Spider Man and The Odyssey to a record for domestic ticket sales, Rentrak preliminary data show.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

A swath of other summer blockbusters would be released alongside them; A “Spider-Man” here, a “Mission: Impossible” there.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

Like shoppers trying to keep the fridge stocked, pharmaceutical chiefs are constantly hunting for promising biotech drugs to replace expiring blockbusters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

His romantic novels such as The Last of the Mohicans were literary blockbusters.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock