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

Still, audiences hungry for the kind of brawny all-star spectacle now largely confined to sci-fi and comic book tentpoles should turn out for this bold retelling of Homer’s epic poem. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

These tentpoles yield lucrative consumer product lines, theme park rides and Disney+ rewatches. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2026

With Hell in a Cell imagery anchoring one half of the marketing and the Reigns–Rollins history driving the other, WWE has its two tentpoles in place. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tentpole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol