Part of that could be that writers tended to work harder to build the world rather than assume an audience familiar with the tropes. Many of the tent-pole movi

Part of that could be that writers tended to work harder to build the world rather than assume an audience familiar with the tropes. Many of the tent-pole movies of the last twenty years are also sequels that rehash the original, rather than continue a story, or tell a new one. The Matrix is more than twenty years old, for example. There are exceptions. But only a few. Sturgeon's Law, perhaps. But I tend to agree with you. (Urge to growl "Get off my lawn" rising.)