One of the most powerful forces in world culture, American cinema has a long and complex history that stretches through more than a century. This history not only includes a legacy of hundreds of important films but also the evolution of the film industry itself, which is in many ways a microcosm of the history of American society.

Historical Dictionary of American Cinema, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 600 cross-referenced entries covering people, films, companies, techniques, themes, and subgenres that have made American cinema such a vital part of world culture.

Ten years after the first edition, Booker updates Historical Dictionary of American Cinema by adding a hundred pages to cover developments in the US film industry from 2010 to 2020, including notes about the disruption in productions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alphabetical entries focus on film studios, genres, and people, from directors, producers, and actors to scriptwriters and composers. General readers. * Choice Reviews *

M. Keith Booker is professor of English at the University of Arkansas. He has written or edited more than sixty books on film, literature, and cultural theory.