This book is devoted to the critical study of the cinema of John Milius, filling a major gap in the literature by combining the examination of the artistic, historical and cultural significance of Milius? work, with an in-depth analysis of his films. Although most contemporary film-viewers have forgotten him, John Milius has been one of the most influential and controversial film-makers in the history of American cinema. Along with the likes of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, Milius was a central figure of the so called ?New Hollywood?. Milius, who gained an Academy Award nomination as screenwriter for Apocalypse Now [tel], reached the apex of his directorial career in the 1980s with films such as Conan the Barbarian [tel] and Red Dawn [tel]. More recently, he was involved in a series of innovative projects such as the creation of the HBO series Rome [tel] and the invention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.