> almost every film and TV series, as well as a good many plays and novels, have exactly the same plot?
This is what makes Pulp Fiction[1] such a masterpiece. Three interwoven story lines chopped up and served out of order make for a wild ride.
Restating TFA's question, then: why are we not seeing more art of Pulp Fiction caliber? Instead, the bulk of what is on offer seems a regression to the franchise mean.
But is it worse than that? Has technology begotten an epidemic of ADD, where few have the attention span to re-compile Pulp Fiction in their heads, much less, sit through a 90min flick?
There are probably many such movies, but most people don't know about them, because they usually never become popular. Pulp Fiction is an exception insofar it is (was) very popular.