Cultural History of Film in the United States examines film from the United States of America through a cultural studies perspective. This book seeks to explore the sociocultural conditions that cause film to be made, and those conditions that cause film to change. Moving chronologically through the 120-year history of American film, each chapter focuses on a small selection of films that elucidate the historically specific ideas, priorities, fears, and desires of their moment of creation.This book provides readers with a way to understand film as a cultural artifact, allowing films to be situated as something bigger than escapist entertainment. Though the book follows a chronological format, each chapter will be able to stand alone as a case-study of its own, allowing instructors to use either the entire book or specific chapters to expand their student’s understandings of the historical conditions that influence film. Instead of an attempt at a comprehensive exploration of American film, the author has opted for deep readings of representative films that speak to broader historical moments and narratives. With this approach, this book should be an asset to instructors seeking a companion to existing film textbooks, or as a primary text for a film studies course.