The Evolution of Hollywood's Calculated Blockbuster Films

Reviews / Votes

"Alexander Ross outlines in extensive and unique detail how studios make money not just on blockbusters, but also eventually from all movies. He uses his vast experience, inside knowledge, and scholarly expertise to lay out both the successes and the mistakes of the 'blockbuster era.' I highly recommend this book to scholars in film studies and business, film school students working toward a career in the film industry, and budding film producers and studio executives." -- Hal Lieberman, former president of production at Universal Pictures "This book provides an original and welcome contribution to the literature about Hollywood. Building on his years of experience in the film industry, insights from prominent industry actors, and rigorous research, Alexander Ross offers a compelling account of the rise of the modern blockbuster business model through detailed case studies of seminal movies, and of its viability in the streaming video-on-demand age. A valuable read for cinema students, scholars and professionals." -- Allegre Hadida, University of Cambridge "In these case studies, Alexander Ross debunks many myths. His case studies demonstrate the relentless attention of studio executives to the possibilities of generating revenue. He captures this practice and, in so doing, provides a valuable contribution to the hard-nosed worldview of Hollywood." -- John Sedgwick, Oxford Brookes University "You are holding a volume which, to my relatively seasoned mind, adds a unique contribution to text-based cinema studies. This book is a persuasive, rigorously researched study of the evolution of the contemporary Hollywood blockbuster." -- Paul Sammon, independent author "Ross helps to bridge a gap between scholars and industry practitioners by analyzing a key stage in the industry's history and the impact of innovative developments over that period. Only by taking more multidisciplinary approaches to research, exemplified in this book, can we better appreciate the ever-changing nature of this fascinating industry." -- Fiona Lettice, University of East Anglia