We mostly think we understand the films we are watching. When we see a city, tommy guns, moonshine and explosions, for example, we think we know that it is a gangster movie. But often this is as far as our understanding goes. Moreover, many 'experts' sniff at such genre films, declaring that they are formulaic, low-brow entertainment. Others, however, hold that genres are hybrids and evolve in ever interesting ways. Well, whether you watch Hollywood movies or art films cinema's prime mover is GENRE. Whether you are at school or university, a lecturer, casual cinema goer or square-eyed cinephile, Genre/Film presents an invaluable introduction to cinema's ultimate force and main bone of contention. Genre/Film demonstrates how an appreciation of genre is crucial for the understanding of film representations. On top of this, Genre/Film also exposes our societies' main genre, melodrama and gives up an up-to-date overview of the gangster idiom with its neo-noir inflection.