Final answer:
The word used by Variety for a box office hit is 'blockbuster', signifying a massively successful film that provides a mix of captivating elements and often fits within popular genres like superheroes and science fiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term often used by Variety, a publication dedicated to covering the entertainment industry, for a box office hit is blockbuster. This word conveys the success and popularity of a movie. In the context of the movie business, which is run predominantly by six major studios that produce and distribute around 130 feature films annually, a blockbuster generally incorporates a blend of elements that appeal to the masses. According to Robert Altman's satire The Player, these elements include violence, suspense, laughter, hope, heart, nudity, sex, and a happy ending. The industry's mass-market logic drives a delicate balance between originality and agreement with the formula of past successes, leading to a dominance of genres like superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, sophomoric comedies, and animation. Sequels and special effects also feature heavily in these films.