This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers the strengths of a number of Film Studies approaches to film to review some of the contributions already made, before outlining the following chapters on comedy and disability, and analysis of films within a range of comedy sub-genres. It analyses representations of disability in comedy films, arguing that meanings of disability and impairment drawn from cinema need to be grounded in an understanding of cinematic practices and processes. The book demonstrates that a valuable framework for so doing involves recognising the importance of mode and genre in the production of cinematic texts and also in shaping the expectations of the audience. It revisits topics of communicative structure, the role of disabled people, characters, and themes within comedy and wider forms of cinematic storytelling.