The Simpsons future predictions
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Since its debut in 1989, The Simpsons has produced over 790 episodes. Many episodes have drawn attention for bearing resemblance to later historical developments. Media scholars note that given the show's longevity and satirical nature - which frequently incorporates contemporary cultural references - some apparent correspondences are statistically likely to occur.
One of the writers, Stephanie Gillis, said there are so many things happening in the world and she spends a lot of time discussing the show outside of work.[1][2]
Notable predictions
[edit]Sport
[edit]An early example of this phenomenon was observed in season three's "Lisa the Greek". Airing only days before Super Bowl XXVI on January 23, 1992, the episode correctly predicted the victory of the Washington Redskins over the Buffalo Bills.[3] A repeat of the episode airing the following year redubbed the episode's dialogue to mention the Dallas Cowboys, once again against the Bills; the Cowboys would go on to win.
The season 21 episode "Boy Meets Curl", released in 2010, foresaw the first American men's curling team winning a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[4]
The season 25 episode "You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee" would predict the 2015 FIFA corruption case.[5]
Politics
[edit]A scene in the season eleven episode "Bart to the Future" mentions that Donald Trump became the president of the United States. In response to this, the episode garnered renewed attention, and the chalkboard gag in season 28's "Havana Wild Weekend", released after the 2016 election, reads "Being right sucks."[6]
In "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy", a news clipping reads that "the US President was arrested", which is believed to predict Trump's arrest in 2023;[7] "The Day the Violence Died", aired 1996, reportedly predicted the United States Capitol attack;[7] and "Midnight Rx" in 2005, reportedly predicted the legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada which was made official as of October 17, 2018.[8] Furthermore, the 2015 short "Trumptastic Voyage" predicted Trump’s return to the White House the following year.[9]
Entertainment
[edit]A gag featuring in the season ten episode "When You Dish Upon a Star" featured a sign depicting the 20th Century Fox logo, with the byline "A Division of Walt Disney Co" underneath it. This predicted the company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, over twenty years before it would come to fruition.[10]
"The Ziff Who Came to Dinner", which aired in 2004, teased that The Matrix would have a fourth movie, and The Matrix Resurrections was eventually released in 2021.[7]
Opposing views
[edit]Al Jean has commented on the show's purported ability to predict the future, explaining that they are really just "educated guesses" and stating that "if you throw enough darts, you're going to get some bullseyes."[11] Producer Bill Oakley stated, "There are very few cases where The Simpsons predicted something. It's mainly just coincidence because the episodes are so old that history repeats itself."[12]
Fact-checking sources such as Snopes have debunked many of the claimed prophecies, explaining that the show's extensive run means "a lot of jokes, and a lot of opportunities for coincidences to appear" and "most of these 'predictions' have rather simple and mundane explanations".[13] Snopes has addressed claims that The Simpsons predicted breakthroughs in technology: the device shown on the show with autocorrection is an Apple Newton, a real 1993 device notorious for its poor handwriting recognition,[14] and technologically advanced watches have appeared in numerous works of fiction, decades before The Simpsons.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Simpsons: How the show's writers predict the future". 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ France, Lisa Respers (2024-07-22). "'The Simpsons' are once again getting credit for predicting American politics". CNN. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ Nelson, John (January 23, 1992). "Plenty of hype on road to Super Bowl". St. Petersburg Times. p. 13D.
- ^ "16 bizarre The Simpsons predictions that actually came true". The Independent. 2024-07-10. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ France, Lisa Respers (2020-05-08). "Another example of 'The Simpsons' predicting future". CNN. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ White, Jamie K. (November 15, 2016). "'The Simpsons' respond to Trump victory prediction: 'Being right sucks'". CNN. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c Saab, Hannah; Kosmala, Karina; Heffernan, Ryan (2022-03-21). "55 'The Simpsons' Predictions That Came True". Collider. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ "21 times 'The Simpsons' predicted the future". EW.com. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ^ "Did Simpsons Predict Trump's Three Presidential Campaigns? Fact Checking Viral 'Trumptastic Voyage' Clip". 9 November 2024.
- ^ Fernandez, Matt (December 14, 2017). "'The Simpsons' Predicted Disney's Acquisition of Fox Almost 20 Years Ago". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ McMahon, James (November 16, 2021). "'The Simpsons' showrunner on uncanny predictions: "9/11 was bizarre"". NME.com. NME. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Jose. "'The Simpsons' Writer on Show Predicting 2020 After Murder Hornets Arrive: 'OK Fine I Guess'". Complex. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "'The Simpsons' Didn't Predict That". Snopes.com. February 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ^ Evon, Dan (September 26, 2019). "Did 'The Simpsons' Predict Autocorrect?". Snopes.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Evon, Dan (December 2, 2019). "Did 'The Simpsons' Predict the Smartwatch?". Snopes.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
