How do we study a film? What is meant by "mise en scene" or "genre" and how can we use these terms to develop a deeper understanding of films? This book takes the study of film seriously without forgetting that it is an entertainment medium. Assuming no previous knowledge of film theory, itprovides an introduction to the methods and terminology used in the study of films. It covers the main topics encountered on film courses, such as narrative, cinematography, stardom, the auteur, spectatorship, the film industry and much else. Drawing on examples ranging from Stagecoach andCasablanca to Raiders of the Lost Ark and Pulp Fiction, it encourages the reader to start actively studying films from the outset and to develop an understanding not only of the text but also of the institutional and social context within which it is situated.