dump months

noun

The two periods of the year, often described as January and February and mid-August through September, when new movie releases are either poor-quality, cheaply made, or intended for niche audiences, since low movie attendance limits the potential box office return.

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Meanings

noundump months pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlybroadcastingThe two periods of the year, often described as January and February and mid-August through September, when new movie releases are either poor-quality, cheaply made, or intended for niche audiences, since low movie attendance limits the potential box office return.

Origin

From the sense that movie studios are "dumping" poor-quality and limited-appeal films during those months.

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Cite this entry
APA

dump months. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20months

MLA

“dump months.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20months. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dump months,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dump%20months.

Source: dump months on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.