European cinema flourishes. European blockbusters challenge Hollywood's domination of the industry and prize-winning art-house productions influence directors in American and beyond. Whether attempting to engage with the past, explore the present or predict the future, today's European films display a verve and originality that challenges the older stereotypes. Contemporary European Cinema presents an overview of the dynamics of twenty-first century European cinema, exploring the artistic, commercial and production contexts of European cinema in order to identify the areas in which the continent's filmmakers express their national concerns and identities. Taking a thematic approach Contemporary European Cinema draws on a wide range of case studies from different countries to reflect the breadth of contemporary European cinema. Topics covered include art cinema; historical drama; horror; political films; the effects of EU and national funding; the interaction between art and popular cinema; and the survival of European cinematic style and spectacle. Contemporary European Cinema will be of great value to students studying European cinema as part of Film Studies, Media Studies and modern language courses.