Historically, motion pictures have been analyzed from many different perspectives and approaches. The business of film is receiving much closer scrutiny these days, again from diverse viewpoints. Although the popular press has always been fascinated with the spectacle of Hollywood, more media attention seems to be devoted these days to the business of film making in publications such as Entertainment Weekly and television programs such as Entertainment Tonight. Of course, much of this coverage is prompted by the industry itself through the studios' extensive publicity and promotion operations.

On the other hand, film industry insiders have produced a wide range of literature that more rigorously discusses the business practices of commercial film making in the United States. Many are aimed at Hollywood wannabes (for instance, Levy 2000), while others are mostly anecdotal essays about the industry (for instance, most anything by Peter Bart). At one time, Squire (1983, 1992) was one of the few sources that provided useful inside information on how the industry worked as a business. More recently, however, a number of industry accountants and legal experts have offered books detailing the complex financial and legal arrangements that surround the production, distribution, and retailing of commercial films (for instance, Daniels et al. 1998; Moore 2000). In addition, financial and investment advisors regularly produce detailed analysis, useful even for those not interested in investing in the industry (for instance, Vogel 2001; Cones 1996).