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

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Etymology

Origin of blockbuster

First recorded in 1940–45; block + buster

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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

As well as starring in Hollywood blockbuster Cleopatra, and was known for his powerful performances in Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood and Shakespearean stage roles.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

The French drugmaker’s blockbuster drug Dupixent—developed jointly with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals—accounted for around half of the company’s sales beat relative to consensus estimates, according to JPM.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Alongside its blockbuster cancer drugs, AstraZeneca has also been developing a weight-loss treatment, given the popularity of GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Listings momentum in India has remained relatively strong this year, but the post-IPO performances of several blockbuster names have been lackluster.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

And I can always find something to mock in a blockbuster.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

An interesting mix of about a half dozen blockbusters and indies also seem like good bets, while at least three of the 10 slots are fully up for grabs.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

The performance marks Cruise’s return to art-house cinema after almost two decades largely focused on action blockbusters including “Top Gun: Maverick” and the “Mission: Impossible” franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Film fans have had plenty of chances to spot Glasgow on the big screen in recent years, from superhero blockbusters to futuristic sci-fi thrillers.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Cancer immunotherapies like Keytruda and rival drug Opdivo are some of the other major blockbusters set to lose patent protection this decade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Those dozen blockbusters are the cereals wheat, corn, rice, barley, and sorghum; the pulse soybean; the roots or tubers potato, manioc, and sweet potato; the sugar sources sugarcane and sugar beet; and the fruit banana.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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