Includes bibliographical references (p. 325-381) and index.

American success -- The players -- Television: a parting of the ways -- The pay media: a shower of money -- Controlling the release sequence -- Rising American dominance -- What has Hollywood done with the money? -- Hollywood's digital future -- Appendixes: Market shares of domestic box office/rentals and video revenues -- Stability of world theatrical rentals, 1948-1975 -- U.S. Distributor revenue by source -- Prices, distributor revenue, and viewing estimates, 1948, 1975, and 2002 -- Video windows, 1988-2002 -- Comparative analysis of movie industries and trade in the United States and the EUJ5 countries, statistical data, 1950-2003 -- Determinants of U.S. box office market shares in the EUJ5, 1950-2003 -- Movie production costs and animated movie data -- Motion picture industry employment -- Credits analysis, top ten movies, 1971-2001 -- Movie genre analysis.