What does blockbuster mean?
A blockbuster is something that achieves overwhelming popular or commercial success, most commonly a big-budget film that draws huge audiences, but also a bestselling book, a widely consumed product, or even a sensational news story. The word originated during the Second World War, when Allied forces used it to describe massive bombs powerful enough to destroy an entire city block; by the 1950s American usage had shifted to the real-estate practice known as 'blockbusting', and shortly afterwards the term settled into its modern sense of a runaway hit. Today it carries connotations of spectacle, mass appeal, and box-office triumph rather than artistic merit — a blockbuster may be critically acclaimed or widely dismissed, so long as it sells. It is informal-to-neutral in register and ubiquitous in entertainment journalism, making it essential vocabulary for discussing popular culture and commerce alike.
nounA thing of great power or size, in particular a film, book, or other product that is a great commercial success.
- A film, book, or product that achieves enormous commercial success.
- Something of great power, impact, or scale, such as a startling news story or revelation.
- (Historical) A large, highly destructive aerial bomb used in World War II, capable of destroying a city block.
"The studio's summer blockbuster shattered box-office records worldwide."
"The novel was an overnight blockbuster, topping bestseller lists for months."
"The reporter's blockbuster exposé forced the resignation of two ministers."
Standard regular plural; commonly used when comparing hits across seasons or studios.
"The studio released three blockbusters that year."
Before it meant a hit movie, 'blockbuster' named a bomb so enormous it could flatten an entire city block during World War II.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blockbuster
Blockbuster was coined during the Second World War as a compound of 'block' and 'buster' (an agent noun from 'bust', meaning to break), describing bombs large enough to demolish a whole city block. In mid-twentieth-century America the term was applied to the exploitative real-estate tactic of 'blockbusting', and by the late 1950s and early 1960s it had acquired its dominant modern sense of an extraordinarily successful film or product. Its components trace back respectively to Old French 'bloc' and Middle English 'bresten'/'bursten', related to Old English 'berstan' (to break).
Related word forms
How blockbuster is actually used
Informal to neutral register. Most strongly associated with the film industry ('summer blockbuster'), where it carries connotations of spectacle and mass appeal rather than critical acclaim; a blockbuster can be critically panned yet commercially triumphant. The historical military sense is now dated.
Easily confused with blockbuster
'Blockbusting' refers to the now-illegal real-estate practice of inducing homeowners to sell cheaply by stoking fears about changing neighbourhood demographics, whereas 'blockbuster' denotes a huge success, especially a film.