box office

¹

noun

1. the office of a theater, stadium, or the like, at which tickets are sold.
2. Theater.
   1. receipts from a play or other entertainment.
   2. entertainment popular enough to attract paying audiences and make a profit:

      This show will be good box office.

box-office

²

[ boks-aw-fis, -of-is ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the box office or to the business and commercial aspects of the theater:

   a box-office window; box-office receipts; a box-office attraction.

box office

noun

1. an office at a theatre, cinema, etc, where tickets are sold
2. the receipts from a play, film, etc
3. 1. the public appeal of an actor or production

      the musical was bad box office

   2. ( as modifier )

      a box-office success

Word History and Origins

Origin of box office¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Origin of box office²

First recorded in 1805–15; adj. use of box office

Example Sentences

He arrived in the United States in 2002 at the age of 17, the same year Sam Raimi’s first “Spider-Man” movie broke records at the box office and made superheroes a mainstay in theaters.

From Washington Post

That should be enough for a franchise that already dominates the box office, with three of the five highest-grossing movies of 2019 to its name.

From Time

He’s a partial-season plan holder now, but in 2016 he would often take advantage of the Nationals’ $5 same-day deal at the ballpark box office.

From Washington Post

A bit of a box office and critical disappointment at its release, The Muppet Christmas Carol has gone on to become a holiday classic for many.

From Vox

So far, box office revenues are down 80% from 2019 levels, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

From Fortune

In response to the screen quota cut, South Korea established a “cinema tax” on the box office.

From The Daily Beast

How to Train Your Dragon 2, the tenth highest grossing movie in 2014 America, made $22 million at the Korean box office.

From The Daily Beast

But inspiration and faith-based agenda in movies does not guarantee box office success.

From The Daily Beast

Draft Day, his Ivan Reitman-directed film about the NFL draft, grossed just $28 million at the domestic box office.

From The Daily Beast

After that, the box office was up and it got played in more theaters.

From The Daily Beast

Passed the box-office coming up, continued this voluble enlightener; nothing left but a few seats in the top gallery.

From Project Gutenberg

We ask your indulgence for the keen disappointment, and beg to say that your money will be refunded at the box-office.

From Project Gutenberg

Turiddu was presiding over the box-office and had considered my requirements.

From Project Gutenberg

If he is to be a real business man he'll not have anything to do with tickets bought directly at the box office.

From Project Gutenberg

He had to sue two Graeco-Roman wrestlers for board and attach their box-office receipts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gate