the.com/tent pole
The movie that keeps the studio's lights on, financially speaking.
means A major release (usually a franchise film) that a studio relies on to prop up its whole year's revenue.
from Literal before it was financial: a tent pole is the stake that holds up the canvas, keeping the whole structure from collapsing. Hollywood borrowed the image in the late 20th century — a 'tentpole picture' is the one blockbuster strong enough to hold up the studio's entire release schedule (and balance sheet) around it.
- origin
- Literally the pole holding up a circus tent
- studio math
- One flop can cost more than ten indie hits
- not sequels only
- Can be any big-budget bet, not just franchises
- risk profile
- Bigger the pole, bigger the collapse if it snaps