# blockbuster

/ˈbɫɑkˌbəstɝ/ (US) · /blˈɒkbʌstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blockbuster
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. successful film or book

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a film or book that is extremely popular and makes a lot of money.

For teachers: a creative work, especially a film or novel, that achieves exceptional commercial success and widespread popularity.

- The new superhero movie is expected to be a summer blockbuster.
- Studios often rely on a single summer blockbuster to offset the financial risks of their smaller, more experimental projects.

Teaching tip: While originally used for films, it is now commonly applied to high-selling books and major video game releases.

### 2. large-scale production

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a production made with a very large budget and lots of advertising.

For teachers: a production, typically in entertainment, conceived on an epic scale with a high budget and extensive marketing.

- The museum is hosting a blockbuster exhibition of ancient gold.
- The gallery's blockbuster retrospective required years of international negotiation to secure the necessary loans from private collectors.

Teaching tip: In recent years, this has moved beyond cinema to describe major museum exhibitions or high-profile events.

### 3. powerful bomb

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a very large bomb used to destroy a whole street or area.

For teachers: a high-explosive aerial bomb capable of devastating a large urban area, such as a city block.

- The museum displayed the casing of a massive blockbuster from the war.
- During the strategic bombing campaigns, the deployment of blockbusters was intended to maximize structural damage across dense industrial zones.

Teaching tip: This is the original military origin of the word; students will mostly encounter it in historical contexts.

## Examples

- The new superhero movie is a huge blockbuster.
- The studio spent millions on marketing to ensure the film became a summer blockbuster.
- While critics dismissed the plot as formulaic, the film's visual spectacle secured its status as a global blockbuster.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.