Meaning: something that causes a lot of interest or excitement (definition).

Example: The championship game between the top two contenders was a real barn burner.


Origins: American 1835-45, reference to burning down a barn to get rid of rats and the attention it causes. (Source.)

Rewrites:

a barn razer a tower toppler a bridge dropper a roof collapser a sky blazer a river blocker
Discussion: While these don’t all have the same origins as a barn burning, they likely would all get public attention and acclaim.