In July of 2025, a new film was released in the \u201cSuperman\u201d and DC Universe (DCU) film franchise. This film was bright and colorful, with a message about kindness and sticking to ones beliefs even when they are unpopular. This is a huge contrast from the 2013 Superman film, \u201cMan of Steel,\u201d which instead chose to explore the loneliness, confusion and destruction that a creature like Superman would exhibit. \u201cMan of Steel\u201d was a dark and gritty film where the leading character showcased a brooding and stoic character. Within ten years, Hollywood\u2019s formula has changed drastically. In the\u00a0 2000\u2019s and early 2010\u2019s, blockbusters were largely known for being dark, apocalyptic and having themes related to distrust in institutions. This period brought forth films and shows like, \u201cThe Dark Knight,\u201d \u201c28 Days Later,\u201d and \u201cThe Walking Dead.\u201d The 2000\u2019s were not the first time that\u00a0 Hollywood\u00a0 has had a drastic change in tone. The 1930\u2019s, films about escapism along with poverty became huge because of the Great Depressions effect on society. Films like \u201cGone with the Wind\u201d and \u201cThe Wizard of Oz\u201d catered to society’s desire to escape from the realities of the depression. On the other hand, films like \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath,\u201d \u201cGold Diggers of 1933,\u201d and \u201cMr. Smith Goes to Washington\u201d explored the truths and issues of poverty and government in the modern day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Movies were not the only source of media that had a culture shock due to the Great Depression. The desire for escapism brought forth the vast popularity of superhero comic books, with Superman being one of the first and most popular superheroes. Superman initially represented a romanticized version of America. He wore a symbol of hope and stood for truth, justice and the American way. Over time artists in some ways or another have tried to change the character depending on the culture. During the last decade, many artists have tried to showcase evil versions of Superman. At this same time, secularism and Nihilism had been on the rise, and patriotism had been decreasing due to a multitude of reasons including fear over climate issues, economic issues, mental health and global conflicts and issues. Because of this, many studios tried to adapt their art to the modern era. For example, Homelander from the Amazon Prime show, \u201cThe Boys.\u201d Was an obvious twist on the Superman character. Homelander wears an American flag as a cape and is seen as a hero. However, secretly he is a psychotic murderer who does not care about human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dark and twisted versions of iconic characters and stories became one of Hollywood\u2019s most successful and widespread strategies after the September 11 terrorist attack in 2001. This strategy was on full display after the success of the 2008 film, \u201cThe Dark Knight.\u201d Due to it\u2019s success, many blockbusters in the late 2000\u2019s and early 2010\u2019s had marketing campaigns that portrayed their films as dark and gritty, even if the films themselves were not. Warner Bros success from \u201cThe Dark Knight\u201d also brought forth \u201cMan of Steel\u201d which was produced and written by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer; the duo behind \u201cThe Dark Knight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The early and mid 2010\u2019s saw a rise of left leaning beliefs in the United States. The democratic party won elections easily with the popularity of Barack Obama. Hollywood’s landscape proceeded to become more liberal with a rising importance of showcasing diversity. Black Rock, the biggest investment company in the world, also put a focus on Environmental Social Governance (ESG) investing. During this time, the success of The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) brought forth a lighter tone in films, and at the same time filmmakers put a focus on turning away from tradition and putting an emphasis on diversity and more liberal beliefs. This era brought forth films and shows like \u201cThe Woman King,\u201d \u201cBlack Panther,\u201d and \u201cShe-Hulk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, in the modern day, audiences have started to react less positively to Hollywood constantly embracing this tone. The modern culture, specifically Generation Z has also become more religious. According to Newsweek \u201cnearly half of young adults in England and Wales now say they believe in God or a higher power according to new figures\u2014a striking turn that runs counter to decades of declining belief across Western societies. Data from the U.S. reveals a similar trend, with the percentage of young adults engaging with the bible and committing to Christianity on the rise too.\u00a0Findings from the American Bible Society<\/a>\u00a0spotted the first increase in “bible use and scripture engagement” among younger adults since 2021. Generation Z men are also becoming more right-wing. According to Katie Couric Media, \u201cIn the 2024 presidential election, men aged 18 to 29 swung sharply in their political alignment. Roughly 56 percent voted for President Donald Trump<\/a>, a stark reversal from 2020, when the same percentage backed Joe Biden. Not since George H.W. Bush\u2019s election in 1988 has a majority of young male voters backed a Republican for president.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n