Ever Wonder Why We Use The Term “Blockbusters” To Describe Hit Movies?

If you love watching movies as much as I do, you’ve probably asked yourself  at some point – why do we say that big, hit movies are “blockbusters”?

To get the answer, we need to travel back in time to World War 2.

A “blockbuster” was a type of bomb that was so powerful, it could decimate a city block!

The name caught on, and people started using it to describe anything explosive or extravagant.

At first, “blockbuster” was used to describe films that were “bold or noteworthy.”

In 1943, “Time” magazine said critics were calling the movie “Mission to Moscow”, quote, “as explosive as a blockbuster.”

But, pretty soon, it became synonymous with big box office success.

In the 1950s, a producer named Max E. Youngstein defined a blockbuster as any movie that grossed over $2 million at the box office.

Yes, that was a lot of cash back then.

But, what do you expect?

You could take your whole family to the movies for TWO BITS!

Ah, the good ol’ days.

 

(Mental Floss)

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