Tent-pole (entertainment)

As a tentpole (English: tent pole ) is called in the film industry is the most important film publication of a film production company in a given year, of which the producers expect that they will be a blockbuster with the highest box office. The term derives from the fact that such a film as a tent pole is to have a " support " function for the production company.

A tentpole is compensated by its financial success financial losses of flops. To achieve this goal, he must appeal to the broadest possible audience ( " Four - quadrant Movie "). Meets such a film, the occurrence of which is often associated with a significant production budget, but at the box office not his expectations ( " Box Office Bomb" ), this can lead to serious financial problems for the film production company.

Successful tentpole releases, however, often draw sequels and thereby establish a franchise.

After John Carter in 2012 - Between Two Worlds and Battleship two scheduled as a tentpole releases films had recorded only a fraction of their cost again, the increasing concentration of the film studios was criticized on tentpole releases.