Unofficial Academy Awards Discussion Board

It strikes me that blockbuster movies tend to be mostly fantastical, led by comic-book franchises; and, critically-acclaimed movies are often at least somewhat depressing, such as Nomadland, and/or snarky, such as Don't Look Up. This strikes me as a choice between ignoring reality entirely or giving up on the awfulness of reality. That makes me think a movie which faces reality with the hope that things can be made radically better could actually have a great appeal.