In 1978, as many commentators on the history of cinema note, Grease was the word. Adapted from a hit Broadway show, Grease was a blockbuster phenomenon, topping the box office for the year and producing a legendary soundtrack album. Through subsequent theatrical re-releases, DVD sales, and a sing-a-long version, Grease has won fans across the globe and over generations. Not often recognized for helping usher in the modern blockbuster, Grease s producers successfully exploited tactics from a bygone era of cheap, independent teen films, while also recognizing the synergistic tools of an age of media conglomeration and high concept. Yet, the film also dramatizes a new, transformed version of the teenager, dressed in 1950s garb but reflective of the social changes and rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s. This book offers the first in-depth look at the history, social context, and industrial practices behind this teen musical phenomenon to suggest that social change, especially in terms of gender and sexuality, comes to the surface despite the films retro setting, blockbuster business model, and apparent nostalgia. An infectious musical love story for the ages, Grease has won over 'hopelessly devoted' fans not just with charm, but with the play of critique.