Plenty of highly intelligent people end up getting sucked in to cults because they just wanted people to hang out with. There are antivaxxer nurses. Your ability to act on empirical reason breaks down fast if your social and emotional needs aren't being met.
men in black still holds up so well imo the jaded old man getting partnered with an insubordinate rookie (and it works bc they’re both fucking insane). the lore. the creepy cockroach alien wearing a human as a suit & planning world domination. the kitty and his lil necklace. the wazzzzzzzzup aliens & talking pug. the special effects and pre digital haze. the quote where k says “fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the earth was the center of the universe. five hundred years ago, everybody knew the earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. imagine what you'll know tomorrow”