I think there's layers.

The underlying story is a piece of literature. Then you've got the screenplay, the set design, and the special effects. Then you've got the actors with their own personalities attached to the project. Then there's the promo material that sells the film as a product.

As you move farther and farther from the original work, the more messaging drifts. At the end of the day, the goal is to draw people in to see the movie. But this isn't a singular vision. It's a composite of interpretations and expressions.

What makes it popular is the broad appeal. But plenty of movies are engineered to have broad appeal and end up appealing to nobody.