Grph. I remember the switch.
Cultural trends are cyclic - usually from generation to generations. Mustaches and beards go through four generation cycles.
Popular culture follows similar trends. TV and movies haven't been around long enough to see more than one cycle but the characteristics of the early popular media was escapism. Viewers didn't want to see reality - that was in their houses. It made them uneasy. Now people want to see hyper-reality. They want to be consoled that others are worse and they can be better.
Even Superman and Batman have become more "realistic". They didn't use to kill people. Of course, if it wasn't human - it better hide.
I'm amused by all the people that thrill to the exploits of heros and I'm thinking, "Guy! You live on your couch."