re: New Marvel movie featuring women superheroes is a box office disaster

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Is ‘tentpole’ some sort of movie industry term I’ve never hear before?

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Yes. It isn't particularly new but it means a high revenue film (or at least is supposed to be) to "hold up" the rest of a particular studio/company's film output. A film to pay the bills and for all the art films, talent development, etc.

Like a college football team is to the rest of that school's sports.