Anchorhead said:

If it's strictly the style over substance trend, Independence Day, Armageddon, and the Matrix trilogy are every bit as responsible.

But these were original properties; modern style over substance films would be based on some comic book superhero, a remake of a forgotten 80s/early 90s movie, or a young adult novel series. Plus, they weren't trying to make cinematic universes out of Amadgeddon or Independence Day. Even the Matrix was just your average movie trilogy in the vein of Back To The Future.