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
The overall motion picture ecosystem would rely on fewer tentpoles.
—
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
What Brands Should Take Away This tentpole event is still one of the most powerful environments to connect with consumers.
—Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2026
Going back to The Housemaid, the ability to put a movie like it in the Christmas corridor is partially a function of not having a $200 million tentpole that needs to occupy the Christmas space.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
The Roles Emma Chamberlain Actually Wants Chamberlain isn’t angling for rom-com leads or franchise tentpoles.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
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Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Apr. 2026
What Brands Should Take Away This tentpole event is still one of the most powerful environments to connect with consumers.
—Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2026
Going back to The Housemaid, the ability to put a movie like it in the Christmas corridor is partially a function of not having a $200 million tentpole that needs to occupy the Christmas space.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
The Roles Emma Chamberlain Actually Wants Chamberlain isn’t angling for rom-com leads or franchise tentpoles.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 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 18 Apr. 2026.
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