In The Gross, Peter Bart, editor-in-chief of Variety, puts the spotlight on the summer of 1998. He takes us through the entire cycle of would-be summer blockbusters, from script through casting and production and finally into release. He gives an in-depth account of the making of such films as Saving Private Ryan, Deep Impact, Godzilla, Armageddon, and There's Something About Mary. And, most important, he shows us why some succeeded and others failed.

The cast of characters in The Gross includes the most important and powerful names in Hollywood. Dozens of actors, directors, producers, agents, and studio heads - from Steven Spielberg and Mel Gibson to Warren Beatty and Michael Eisner - all talked at length to Bart. Through these interviews, as well as exhaustive reporting, the author gives us a revealing portrait of how today's movies get made. We also learn the real meaning of the summer season in Hollywood.