The phrase "a massive hit when" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that was very successful at a specific time or under certain conditions.
Example: "The movie became a massive hit when it was released during the holiday season."
Alternatives: "a huge success when" or "a blockbuster when".
The song, which was a massive hit when it was released last year, was the most sung song on karaoke website luckyvoice.com, yesterday.
Variety says the original proved a massive hit when it opened in late 2002 in Hong Kong, spawning two acclaimed sequels.
Boston's software scene took a massive hit when Paul Graham relocated Y Combinator from Boston to Silicon Valley, but it has never been stronger in biotech.
Danger took a massive hit when it lost some of it's greatest minds to competing companies (CEO Andy Rubin took off to lead Android at Google, while Lead UI designer Matias Duarte is a big player behind Palm's WebOS), but we'd always kept a special place in our hearts for the ol' Kick.
While the university says it will continue some operations in Hungary, it's clear the local economy will take a massive hit when it decamps to Vienna.
Twin Peaks was a massive hit when it premiered on ABC, tanked in the ratings a year later after what many considered to be a subpar second season, got a feature film adaptation that most of the moviegoing public absolutely hated, and then completely disappeared from the zeitgeist.
Simon isn't terribly concerned with artistry but he knows a massive hit single when he hears one and has always loved this tune so he compliments Archuleta for his song choice even though it's an identical pick to John Farmham's "You're The Voice" -- a massive worldwide hit new to most people in the US.
The Three-Body Problem was a massive hit in China when it was first released in 2008, and went on to win a Hugo for its English translation in 2015.
When you see one of your team-mates put in a massive hit like that it gets the boys fizzing.
"When they did the [Diamond] Jubilee concert from Buckingham Palace, that was a massive hit.
A massive hit record is fundamentally inexplicable.
