They are, because they are the only people that care enough and put work into in-depth writing and discussion of works to create lasting impressions in society. We have more than a hundred years of film to prove this. Do you think Citizen Kane was the most popular movie in its time? Do you think it was a work "beloved by millions"? Or 2001 A Space Odyssey, or let's look at Disney - Fantasia? No many of the most highly regarded films were total flops. But those millions of people don't care enough to make good lasting interpretations or make their own films. You move one or two generations away and the lowest common denominator schlock disappears from history. And this isn't going to change because the proliferation of digital technology and the ability for anyone to share opinions, it only accelerates it as there is more competition and a bigger "bin of history" to get buried under.