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This book explores the ambivalence that Americans feel toward the theme of escape, first through a brief examination of its role in American political and cultural thought, and then through an examination of several popular films, both American and international, including "The Wizard of Oz", "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Notting Hill". While escape plays a key role in America's origins, it also has drawbacks, such as civic isolation and the loss of community. This attraction to and suspicion of escape is a frequent subtext of many popular American films, and through globalization, the theme now appears in international films as well, often with the same implicit ambivalence toward the promises and costs of escape. By articulating this ambivalence, the author hopes that we can better understand the continued popularity of these films in part due to the enduring attraction and suspicion of escape.