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the·at·ri·cal
thē-ˈa-tri-kəl 
variants
or less commonly theatric
2
: having qualities suggestive of a stage play or of an actor's performance : deliberately or exaggeratedly dramatic or emotional : histrionic
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
a politician who has a highly theatrical manner of speaking
after stepping out of their hired limousine, the prom couple made a theatrical entrance in their evening clothes
Recent Examples on the Web
K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2022
Whatever happens in it, the plot is big enough to warrant a theatrical release.
—Maren Estrada, BGR, 29 Dec. 2022
Deadpool 3 is scheduled for a Nov. 8, 2024 theatrical release.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022
Ahead of Living’s theatrical release this Friday, Nighy recently spoke to Vogue about diners, bookshops, musicals, radio, and the (not unwelcome) awards attention that’s attached itself to the film.
—Marley Marius, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2022
One big number: Amazon’s movie-making budget $1 billion: Money Amazon plans to spend on creating 12 to 15 movies for theatrical release each year.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 16 Dec. 2022
Mean Girls has been a cultural phenomenon since its theatrical release in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert.
—Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 12 Dec. 2022
Here's a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their streaming and on-demand debuts.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2022
In 2021-2022, total spend on Australian theatrical feature films reached a record A$786 million — an increase of 59% on 2020/21, and 89% up on the 5-year average.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Nov. 2022
Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2022
Fire of Love After a short theatrical run earlier this year, Fire of Love is hitting Disney+.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2022
The film received generally positive reviews, but its pandemic timing and simultaneous theatrical and streaming release resulted in a meager $168.7 million worldwide box office haul.
—Jevon Phillips, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Television shows, like NewsRadio and Eight Simple Rules, have worked a shocking death of a significant cast member into the ongoing narrative, but this is uncharted territory for a blockbuster theatrical.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022
Under the agreement, which begins on Jan. 1, 2023, Hamada will spearhead the studio’s mainstream horror movies, with the goal of releasing several low-to mid-budget films per year across theatrical and streaming.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 15 Nov. 2022
In the race for fame, no British theatrical since Noël Coward had got off the blocks as fast as Branagh.
—John Lahr, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022
The Woman King, starring Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, has started off its North American theatrical run with a promising $1.7 million in Thursday previews on its way to easily winning this weekend’s box office hunt.
—Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022
Sue will oversee global marketing strategy and campaigns for series and films, both direct-to-service and theatrical.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 31 Oct. 2022
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Adjective
The movie, which received a very limited theatrical release ahead of premiering December 30 on Netflix, is an adaptation of Don DeLillo’s canonical postmodern novel from 1985.
—K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2022
Whatever happens in it, the plot is big enough to warrant a theatrical release.
—Maren Estrada, BGR, 29 Dec. 2022
Deadpool 3 is scheduled for a Nov. 8, 2024 theatrical release.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 26 Dec. 2022
Ahead of Living’s theatrical release this Friday, Nighy recently spoke to Vogue about diners, bookshops, musicals, radio, and the (not unwelcome) awards attention that’s attached itself to the film.
—Marley Marius, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2022
One big number: Amazon’s movie-making budget $1 billion: Money Amazon plans to spend on creating 12 to 15 movies for theatrical release each year.
—Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 16 Dec. 2022
Mean Girls has been a cultural phenomenon since its theatrical release in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert.
—Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 12 Dec. 2022
Here's a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their streaming and on-demand debuts.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2022
In 2021-2022, total spend on Australian theatrical feature films reached a record A$786 million — an increase of 59% on 2020/21, and 89% up on the 5-year average.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 9 Nov. 2022
Noun
Vandits is set for a limited theatrical in Canada on Nov. 4 before the comedy shifts to local broadcaster Hollywood Suite.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Oct. 2022
Fire of Love After a short theatrical run earlier this year, Fire of Love is hitting Disney+.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2022
The film received generally positive reviews, but its pandemic timing and simultaneous theatrical and streaming release resulted in a meager $168.7 million worldwide box office haul.
—Jevon Phillips, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2022
Television shows, like NewsRadio and Eight Simple Rules, have worked a shocking death of a significant cast member into the ongoing narrative, but this is uncharted territory for a blockbuster theatrical.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022
Under the agreement, which begins on Jan. 1, 2023, Hamada will spearhead the studio’s mainstream horror movies, with the goal of releasing several low-to mid-budget films per year across theatrical and streaming.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 15 Nov. 2022
In the race for fame, no British theatrical since Noël Coward had got off the blocks as fast as Branagh.
—John Lahr, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022
The Woman King, starring Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, has started off its North American theatrical run with a promising $1.7 million in Thursday previews on its way to easily winning this weekend’s box office hunt.
—Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022
Sue will oversee global marketing strategy and campaigns for series and films, both direct-to-service and theatrical.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 31 Oct. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theatrical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Articles Related to theatrical
Dictionary Entries Near theatrical
Cite this Entry
“Theatrical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theatrical. Accessed 1 Feb. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on theatrical
Nglish: Translation of theatrical for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of theatrical for Arabic Speakers
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