Hollywood, movies, and the silver screen were once synonymous, but sweeping changes in the film industry over the last two decades have revolutionized everything from film distribution (video, network TV, cable and pay-cable) to marketing and spin-offs (toys, games, books, theme park rides) to ownership and control of the major studios. This wide-ranging book delves into all these areas to offer a major new assessment of the filmed entertainment industry as it positions itself for the twenty-first century. Janet Wasko's in-depth investigation of the effects of new technologies on production, distribution and exhibition, and marketing constitutes a state-of-the-art account of the transformation of one of the world's most important entertainment industries. This book will be vital reading for everyone involved in the film industry, and it will become a key text for students in media and film studies.