Includes bibliographical references and index.

How does the film industry affect society? Movie violence may be harmful / David Thomson -- Movie violence may decrease violent crime / Gordon Dahl and Stefano DellaVigna -- The film industry may influence at-risk behavior / Hasantha Gunasekera, Simon Chapman, and Sharon Campbell -- The film industry should not be blamed for at-risk behavior / David Goldenberg -- Hollywood films Are racist / Joe R. Feagin -- Minority representation in Hollywood films Is improving / Michael E. Ross -- Hollywood films export negative aspects of American culture / Nathan Gardels and Mike Medavoy -- Hollywood films are multinational enterprises / Hans Erik Naess -- Are film ratings effective? MPAA ratings are effective MPAA. MPAA ratings are not effective / Rod Gustafson -- Violence, sex, and profanity in MPAA-rated movies is increasing / Steve Persall -- Violence, sex, and profanity in MPAA-rated movies has remained the same / Steven D. Greydanus -- Is the film industry appropriately regulated? MPAA regulation prevents federal censorship of the film -- industry / Jesse Walker -- MPAA regulation censors the film industry / Kirby Dick -- The film industry has become over-commercialized / Robin Good -- The level of commercialism in the film industry has not changed / Joanne Weintraub -- What is the future of the film industry? Piracy threatens the future of the film industry / Annlee Ellingson -- The piracy threat to the film industry has been exaggerated / Michael Geist -- The future of independent film Is uncertain / Mark Gill -- The successes of independent films can justify the financial failures / John August -- Digital movies are the future of the film industry / Steven Ascher -- DVDs will not become obsolete / Chris Taylor -- Movie theaters are adapting to changes in the film industry / Andy Serwer -- Home entertainment technologies decrease movie attendance / Laura M. Holson -- Movie attendance increases during recessions / David Germain.