blockbuster
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a film or book that is extremely popular and makes a lot of money.
a creative work, especially a film or novel, that achieves exceptional commercial success and widespread popularity.
Simple“The new superhero movie is expected to be a summer blockbuster.”
In context“Studios often rely on a single summer blockbuster to offset the financial risks of their smaller, more experimental projects.”
Teacher's tipWhile originally used for films, it is now commonly applied to high-selling books and major video game releases.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a production made with a very large budget and lots of advertising.
a production, typically in entertainment, conceived on an epic scale with a high budget and extensive marketing.
Simple“The museum is hosting a blockbuster exhibition of ancient gold.”
In context“The gallery's blockbuster retrospective required years of international negotiation to secure the necessary loans from private collectors.”
Teacher's tipIn recent years, this has moved beyond cinema to describe major museum exhibitions or high-profile events.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
a very large bomb used to destroy a whole street or area.
a high-explosive aerial bomb capable of devastating a large urban area, such as a city block.
Simple“The museum displayed the casing of a massive blockbuster from the war.”
In context“During the strategic bombing campaigns, the deployment of blockbusters was intended to maximize structural damage across dense industrial zones.”
Teacher's tipThis is the original military origin of the word; students will mostly encounter it in historical contexts.
“In their 2021 blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan described the freedom to make her own choices as "liberating".”
“The year prior, a blockbuster Simon and Garfunkel tour ended in bickering.”
From block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.