tentpole
noun
tent·pole ˈtent-ˌpōl 
: a big-budget movie whose earnings are expected to compensate the studio for its less profitable movies
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The recent premiers of tentpole epics like The Rings of Power mask the fact that the days when studios would not hesitate to splurge in the quest for subscriber growth and lower rates of churn, appear over. 
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 The long-tail theory of content that has fueled the streaming business conflicts with the focus on tentpole hits that has traditionally fueled the entertainment economy. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s been a lot of talk about how post-pandemic, box offices have been dominated by tentpole features and there hasn’t been much space for smaller indie productions in cinemas. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2022 Jurassic World invented the self-loathing tentpole blockbuster. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Beyond the availability of work, Canadian actors are also attracted to gaming voiceover work as the lines between what is a Hollywood tentpole and a video game are increasingly blurred. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2022 An over/under $130 million finish in China still qualifies as an advantage over its tentpole competition. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 12 June 2022 In addition, the @WNBA will for the first time host weekly Twitter Spaces events throughout the season, as well as during the league’s tentpole events and the offseason. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 May 2022 To wrest back the sport, and to survive in an entertainment business consolidating around tentpole events and bankable stars, the Tour might have to look a bit more like LIV. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 28 July 2022 See More
Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 The long-tail theory of content that has fueled the streaming business conflicts with the focus on tentpole hits that has traditionally fueled the entertainment economy. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Aug. 2022 There’s been a lot of talk about how post-pandemic, box offices have been dominated by tentpole features and there hasn’t been much space for smaller indie productions in cinemas. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2022 Jurassic World invented the self-loathing tentpole blockbuster. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 18 July 2022 Beyond the availability of work, Canadian actors are also attracted to gaming voiceover work as the lines between what is a Hollywood tentpole and a video game are increasingly blurred. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2022 An over/under $130 million finish in China still qualifies as an advantage over its tentpole competition. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 12 June 2022 In addition, the @WNBA will for the first time host weekly Twitter Spaces events throughout the season, as well as during the league’s tentpole events and the offseason. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 May 2022 To wrest back the sport, and to survive in an entertainment business consolidating around tentpole events and bankable stars, the Tour might have to look a bit more like LIV. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1987, in the meaning defined above