What does blockbuster mean in history?

A blockbuster is something that is powerful, exciting, immense and successful. Most often, blockbuster is used to describe a movie. The word blockbuster has its origin in World War II, when it was used to describe a powerful, high-explosive bomb capable of destroying large areas.

What is the meaning for blockbuster?

1 : a very large high-explosive bomb. 2 : one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large, or extravagant. 3 : one who engages in blockbusting.

How did the term blockbuster originate?

The term began to appear in the American press in the early 1940s, referring to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings. The term was actually first coined by publicists who drew on readers’ familiarity with the blockbuster bombs, drawing an analogy with the bomb’s huge impact.

What film is considered the first blockbuster?

Jaws
Steven Spielberg’s (USA) Jaws (USA, 1975) is considered the first summer blockbuster. Not only did people queue up around the block to see the movie, it became the first film to earn $100 million at the box office.

What’s another word for Blockbuster?

What is another word for blockbuster?

hit megahit
supernova winner
bestseller chartbuster
epic runaway success
smash hit big hit

When was blockbuster founded?

October 19, 1985, Dallas, Texas, United States
Blockbuster LLC/Founded

What’s another word for blockbuster?

Who invented blockbuster?

David Cook
Blockbuster was founded by David Cook, who had previously owned a business that provided computer software services to the oil and gas industry in Texas. Cook saw the potential in the video-rental business and after opening the first Blockbuster in 1985, he added three more stores the following year.

What is the opposite of Blockbuster?

Opposite of a large success or hit. bomb. bummer. bust. catastrophe.

Why was Blockbuster so successful?

Andy Ash: According to David Cook, the opening night of that first Blockbuster store was a huge success. Blockbuster had an innovative new barcode system, which meant that they could track up to 10,000 VHSs per store to each registered customer, which also meant that they could keep an eye on those lucrative late fees.

Who invented Blockbuster?

Previously operated by Blockbuster Entertainment, Inc., the company expanded internationally throughout the 1990s. At its peak in 2004, Blockbuster consisted of 9,094 stores and employed approximately 84,300 people: 58,500 in the United States and 25,800 in other countries….Blockbuster LLC.

Type Subsidiary
Founder David Cook

What does it mean when a movie is a blockbuster?

According to Cambridge Dictionary online, a blockbuster is defined as “a book or movie that is very successful.” Merriam-Webster is a bit less specific and defines it as “one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large, or extravagant.”

What was a blockbuster in the eighteenth century?

In contrast to the “blockbusters” of today-huge editions put out by a single company-bestsellers in the eighteenth century were produced simultaneously in small editions by many publishing houses. It was a remarkable film; a blockbuster; a world beater. Example from the Hansard archive.

Why are bombs called blockbusters in the war?

The word first appeared in the pages of TIME in a Nov. 29, 1942, article on the Allied bombing of key industrial targets in fascist Italy; the bombs used for such missions were called blockbusters because of their ability to destroy an entire city block.

Why was the movie Jaws called a blockbuster?

The release of Jaws was timed to come out well into summer to intentionally spook beachgoers. Blockbusters soon became known for their power to generate lines going around the block. The growth of the video-rental chain Blockbuster Video shortly in the mid-1980s is proof of the popular use of the term in the movie industry.