Beginning film studies offers the most lucid, thorough and up-to-the-minute introduction to this popular subject. Written with verve and wit, it reviews a wealth of significant trends in the discipline's past and present, and looks ahead to new directions for film studies. The discussions are enlivened by references to film cultures as diverse as 'classical' Hollywood, the French 'New Wave' and India, to stars like Johnny Depp, genres such as noir, romance and action, it also examines more 'geographical' turns such as production and consumption. Each chapter concentrates on the essential elements, and each contains full bibliographies, stop and think sections and lists of appropriate websites. Comprehensive and entertaining, it is sure to take its place alongside the popular and bestselling titles already published in this series.