"the gradual but steady elimination of risk"

This isn't limited to movies. Economic stimulus is ever-present, eliminating the business cycle and creative destruction. Our modern conception of politics (at least before Trump was elected) was to be boring and risk-free, moving along the same paths even if a course correction might make more sense.

And as for personal safety, we are amazingly safe, but terribly frightened (I assume becasue we lost all calibration for danger).

As for life in general, everyone seems compelled to go to college because it's the safe life plan.

I'm not suggesting that we give up the gains we've made. But I can't help but wonder what we've lost in terms of true creativity and freedom.