Hollywood is as susceptible to trends as we consumers are. Just as butterfly clips and low-rise jeans come in and out of style, so does taste in movies. For most of the 21st century, episodic storytelling through big franchises has dominated multiplexes, while more modest and adult comedies, dramas, and romances have largely been relegated to streaming, if made at all. But the tide appears to be turning. Even when a superhero movie is good (see: Thunderbolts*, Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps), it doesn't automatically become a billion-dollar blockbuster the way it might have six or seven years ago. Meanwhile, original stories intended for more mature audiences, such as Sinners and Weapons, appear to be gaining popularity.

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