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
But Angel has beaten out Hollywood’s summer tentpoles before.
—
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Again, tentpoles need to tentpole if the box office wants to see growth on 2024.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Aronson will stay through December 1 to oversee the theatrical release of the studio’s November 14 tentpole The Running Man, starring Top Gun 2‘s Glen Powell and directed by Edgar Wright.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Even the suggestion of such a levy, argues Schrieder, could be enough to spook studio executives weighing where to place their next tentpole.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
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J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Again, tentpoles need to tentpole if the box office wants to see growth on 2024.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Aronson will stay through December 1 to oversee the theatrical release of the studio’s November 14 tentpole The Running Man, starring Top Gun 2‘s Glen Powell and directed by Edgar Wright.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
Even the suggestion of such a levy, argues Schrieder, could be enough to spook studio executives weighing where to place their next tentpole.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
Cite this Entry
“Tentpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentpole. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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