The American Blockbuster: Movies That Defined Their Generations

Providing an indispensable resource for students and adults, this book serves as an entry point for a conversation on America’s favorite pastime, focusing in on generational differences and the evolution of American identity.

In an age marked by tension and division, Americans of all ages and backgrounds have turned to film to escape the pressures of everyday life. Yet, beyond escapism, popular cinema is both a mirror and microscope for our collective psyche. Examining the films that have made billions of dollars through a new lens reveals that popular culture is a vital source for understanding what it means to be an American.

This book is divided into four sections, each associated with a different generation. Featuring such era-defining hits as Jaws, Back to the Future, Avatar, and The Avengers, each section presents detailed film analyses that showcase the consistency of certain American values throughout generations as well as the constant renegotiation of others. Ideal for any cinephile, The American Blockbuster demonstrates how complex and meaningful even the summer blockbuster can be.

Provides readers with a completely different take on their favorite films

Extrapolates what American might mean and analyzes common values in the 21st century

Locates film as a crucial element to the understanding of late modern aesthetics, culture, spirituality, politics, and economics

Features a broad array of films spanning from the 1970s to today