Movies have become a large part of American culture; everyone sees movies somehow, either in the theaters or at home. So, obviously, having such a diverse country calls for many kinds of movies, which we have to a degree. But, all these movies seem to mimic each other. Every year, there are always similarities between the most popular movies. Each genre almost represents a part of life—romance, comedy, tragedy, drama and horror—with people always rooting for a happy ending. Do people see the same sorts of movies to find security in their own lives? By watching romantic comedies, where the protagonist always gets his or her happy ending, are people given hope for their own happy endings? It is very likely that the answer to these questions is “yes!” Hollywood and the big movie corporations know this, and they develop movies that people can relate to and see themselves in, giving the viewer hope and increasing the movie’s sales.

Lately, action-adventure movies have become extremely popular. Everyone loves a hero. The world is an ever-changing place, and with each change comes new hopes and fears. Superhero movies offer comfort in knowing that someone else will solve the hardships of life. Many people feel that they are too small to fix the larger problems of the world, and may wish to have a divine-like figure come and save the day. With fears of war, poverty, starvation and even global warming dominating today’s world, it can be soothing to watch movies where superheroes from far-off lands can make everything all better.

Hollywood takes advantage of this vulnerable mindset by setting these films in the future and having them prevent global devastation. This comfort in saviors, fictional or otherwise, runs parallel to the Middle Ages, when people began to find sanctity in their religions. Today, religion and a belief in a force bigger than one’s self gives people faith, even though there may not be answers to all of their questions. In dark times, people still turn to powers greater than themselves in order to find faith, safety, and hope. As the world grows and evolves, humanity will find new ways to self-pacify fears of the unknown, even from a big screen.