This book investigates the mechanisms by which Hollywood cinema generates aesthetic pleasure for mass audiences. Todd Berliner, a scholar of film history and theory, synthesizes psychological research and philosophical aesthetics to argue that mainstream American films are sophisticated art objects. He examines how narrative structures, stylistic choices, and formal techniques work in tandem to produce intense, rewarding experiences for viewers.

Scholars and film critics recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of popular cinema, often noting its ability to bridge the gap between academic theory and the actual experience of moviegoing. Readers frequently highlight the clarity of the prose despite the complexity of the aesthetic arguments presented.