I listened to a podcast (99 Percent Invisible I think) and it said a big reason why the 90s were so great for movies were the creation of cinaplexes, big movie theaters with tons of screens.

More screens meant that new or different ideas that wouldn't normally make it to the big screen (Forrest Gump, Fight Club, The Matrix etc) were given a chance, and found an audience.

Now everything is played safe. Hollywood doesn't want new franchises because they are deemed too risky, and the names we know and love are running out of ideas and passion and risk ruining the whole thing.