a thirst for heroes and myth

Here is a hypothesis I have about one of the reasons why some of the recent blockbusters are so wildly popular (even as sequels, and when obviously inferior to the original of the series):

We are thirsty for heroes - and myth.

A lot can be said on the subject, which I will not discuss (see Joseph Campbell for a primer). And without bringing up the possible causes for this thirst (though you can deduct here that I do have my suspicions) I wanted only to point out one weakness of this "diet": it builds up our ideas about the "outer" hero and fades out the rightful thirst to develop our "inner" hero. Whereas the latter is within our reach, the former... well, maybe I have not been bitten by the right spider yet.