Why Do We Love Superhero Movies Despite Knowing They're Fake? What 'Mythical' Needs Do They Fulfill in Modern Society?

Hey, that's a great question! It really hits the nail on the head, kind of like asking, "Why do we enjoy magic shows so much even though we know they're fake?"

We all know Iron Man's suit is CGI and Captain America's shield is a prop, but every time we see them save the world on screen, we still get pumped up, even moved to tears. There are actually a lot of psychological and cultural needs behind this that we don't even realize.

Let me break it down for you in plain terms.

First, let's talk about the most direct reasons:

Pure Fun and Escapism Simply put, it's about enjoyment. We face work KPIs, study pressures, and relationship troubles every day. Life is already complex and "real" enough. Superhero movies provide a perfect "escape." For those two-plus hours in the cinema, you don't have to think about the report due tomorrow or worry about next month's bills. You just follow the heroes as they soar through the skies and dive into the earth, watching them solve seemingly insurmountable crises in the most straightforward way—"physical persuasion." This experience of clear-cut good versus evil and swift justice is itself a huge mental release.
A Craving for Order and Justice In the real world, many things are ambiguous with no clear answers. Bad guys might not get punished, and good people don't always get rewarded. This uncertainty and sense of powerlessness can cause anxiety. Superhero movies are the opposite. They offer an idealized model: No matter how powerful the villain or how elaborate their plan, justice will ultimately prevail. This setup of heroic figures "descending from the sky" to restore order deeply satisfies our innate desire for fairness and justice. It’s like a shot of adrenaline, telling us: chaos is temporary, order will return.
Projecting Our Ideal Selves Deep down, each of us probably harbors a desire to be better and stronger. We wish we could have Captain America's unwavering moral compass, Iron Man's genius intellect and "financial superpower," or Spider-Man's ability to shoulder great responsibility even as an ordinary person. When we watch them, we're also seeing the versions of ourselves we aspire to become. Their struggles—like Spider-Man choosing between his hero identity and personal life—make them relatable. It feels like we, too, can embody our own form of "heroism" through effort.

Now, let's get to the core of the question: What "mythological" needs do they fulfill?

Ancient people needed myths to explain natural phenomena they couldn't understand (like Thor controlling thunder) and to establish their tribe's values and morals. We modern folks have science and no longer need myths to explain thunder, but we still need "myths" to address our modern anxieties, hopes, and values. Superhero movies perfectly fill this role as "modern myths."

Modern Moral Fables Ancient myths had stories like Prometheus stealing fire or Icarus flying too close to the sun—parables about human nature, desire, and rules. Superhero movies do the same thing, just with skyscrapers and alien spaceships as the backdrop.
- Captain America: Civil War: It explores not who's stronger, but which is more important: security or freedom? Isn't that a debate still raging globally today?
- The Dark Knight: The Joker uses extreme methods to test the limits of human nature, probing the essence of "chaos versus order." These films present complex philosophical and moral dilemmas in a way we can understand and relate to, becoming the moral fables of our time.
Creating New Cultural Totems and a Common Language In the past, people might have talked about Zeus or Hercules from Greek myths, or our own Sun Wukong or Nezha. These were shared cultural touchstones. Now, if you tell a friend, "I'll snap my fingers," they instantly get the Thanos reference. The character relationships, cosmic timelines, and power sets within the MCU and DCU have formed a vast "new mythological system" known to billions worldwide. These characters and stories have become the "cultural totems" of our era—a form of "social currency" that allows strangers to connect quickly. Discussing plots and speculating about Easter eggs creates a massive fan community, providing a sense of belonging.
Providing the Comfort of Ultimate Hope This might be the most important point. In an increasingly secular world, traditional religious beliefs hold less sway for many. But people always need something to believe in, a transcendent force offering hope. Superheroes provide just that—a kind of "secular deity." They are mortals (or look like mortals) wielding god-like power. They represent an ultimate hope: No matter how dark reality gets or how immense the crisis, someone will always step up—not for fame or reward, but simply because "it's the right thing to do." This belief, in our uncertain modern society, is incredibly precious spiritual comfort. It tells us that the noblest, most selfless parts of humanity are real and possess the power to change the world.

To sum it up

So, we love superheroes despite knowing they're fake because they are far more than just movies.

They are:

Our escape hatch from reality.
The ideal realm where we place our sense of justice.
The moral fables and myths of our time.
Cultural beacons where we seek hope and belonging.

Next time you see Spider-Man swinging between New York skyscrapers, don't laugh at us for being childish. We're just watching the "gods" of our era, searching for the "hope" of our time.