tentpole
noun
tent·pole
ˈtent-ˌpōl 
: a big-budget movie whose earnings are expected to compensate the studio for its less profitable movies
Examples of tentpole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Who knew this $10M indie feature with an under $20M P&A spend which released one week after Mandalorian and Grogu (which cost $165M net and a hundred million plus in global P&A) would overtake an anticipated summer franchise tentpole?
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 June 2026
The Little Gold Men crew also wonders who among the next generation of filmmakers might be able to walk the same path—releasing big, bold tentpoles, but also winning over Oscar voters.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
Other big-budget tentpoles have less to celebrate.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 June 2026
But shouldering a wobbly, expensive summer tentpole is a risk — just ask Sam Worthington or Taylor Kitsch.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
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Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 19 June 2026
The Little Gold Men crew also wonders who among the next generation of filmmakers might be able to walk the same path—releasing big, bold tentpoles, but also winning over Oscar voters.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026
Other big-budget tentpoles have less to celebrate.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 June 2026
But shouldering a wobbly, expensive summer tentpole is a risk — just ask Sam Worthington or Taylor Kitsch.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
Cite this Entry
“Tentpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentpole. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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