Offers a new approach to the discourse on Hollywood blockbusters by countering the conventional wisdom that "special effects are the stars" of big films

1. Introduction: Why Do Critics and Scholars Dismiss Blockbuster Performances?.- 2. Historical Epic Blockbusters: Are You Not Entertained...By Actors?.- 3. Magic Fantasy Blockbusters: One Whimsy to Rule Them All.- 4. Superhero Blockbusters: Actors Ahead of the Curve.- 5. Crime Action Blockbusters: Performing Shaken, Not Stirred.- 6. Male-Led Science Fiction Blockbusters: Performing "Faster, More Intense".- 7. Female-Led Science Fiction Blockbusters: Performing "Stop Taking My Hand!".- 8. Conclusion: Once More Around the Blockbuster.

This book examines performances in the American film industry's highest-earning and most influential films. Countering decades of discourse and the conventional notion that special effects are the real stars of Hollywood blockbusters, this book finds that the acting performances in these big-budget action movies are actually better, and more genre-appropriate, than reputed. It argues that while blockbusters are often edited for speed, thrills, and simplicity, and performances are sometimes tailored to this style, most major productions feature more scenes of stage-like acting than hyper-kinetic action. Knowing this, producers of the world's highest-budgeted motion pictures usually cast strong or generically appropriate actors. With chapters offering unique readings of some of cinema's biggest hits, such as The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, Iron Man and The Hunger Games, this unprecedented study sheds new light on the importance ofperformance in the Hollywood blockbuster.