25 Times ‘The Simpsons’ Predicted the Future

“The Simpsons” has an uncanny ability to foresee actual events. This iconic animated show has an eerie record of turning outlandish storylines into reality. The writers behind Springfield’s antics have repeatedly nailed everything from major political shifts to groundbreaking tech. Here’s what the cult classic called it at least 25 times over.

President Donald Trump: Season 11, Episode 17 (2000)

A surprising prediction surfaced in the episode “Bart to the Future,” where Lisa becomes president and mentions inheriting quite the budget crisis from President Trump. It felt like a joke back then, but 16 years later, Donald Trump won the presidency, making this one of the show’s eeriest forecasts.

The Siegfried & Roy Tiger Attack: Season 5, Episode 10 (1993)

During “$pringfield” (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling), the Siegfried & Roy parody characters suffer a tiger attack on stage. After several years, this horrifying scenario became real when Roy Horn sustained severe injuries from a tiger during a live performance in 2003, mirroring the episode’s events.

Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Performance: Season 23, Episode 22 (2012)

A scene from “Lisa Goes Gaga” showcases Lady Gaga performing a high-flying stunt over a crowd dressed in an elaborate outfit. Fast-forward to 2017, the pop star pulled off a nearly identical stunt during her Super Bowl halftime show performance, leaving fans convinced the show’s writers had a crystal ball.

The Ebola Outbreak: Season 9, Episode 3 (1997)

An unsettling projection came to life in “Lisa’s Sax.” A scene showed Marge offering a sick Bart a book titled Curious George and the Ebola Virus. Although the Ebola outbreak didn’t become widespread until long afterward, this episode’s reference spooked many viewers; they wondered if the show had inside knowledge.

Disney Buys 20th Century Fox: Season 10, Episode 5 (1998)

In “When You Dish Upon a Star,” a sign shows 20th Century Fox as a “Division of Walt Disney Co.” It seemed like a wild idea then. Still, two decades later, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in a massive $71.3 billion deal, proving that sometimes fiction becomes reality.

Nobel Prize Winner: Season 22, Episode 1 (2010)

The episode “Elementary School Musical” features Milhouse predicting that Bengt Holmström would win the Nobel Prize in Economics. Six years later, in 2016, Holmström did indeed win the prestigious award. This prediction has amazed fans, as it seemed like a random mention at the time, but long afterward, it turned out to be spot-on.

FaceTime: Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

Foreshadowing modern communication, “Lisa’s Wedding” depicted video calls, a precursor to today’s FaceTime. The episode showed Lisa chatting with her mom on a screen, a technology far from common in the mid-’90s. Video calling is a routine part of life today, yet another impressive forecast.

FIFA Corruption Scandal: Season 25, Episode 16 (2014)

FIFA corruption took center stage in “You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee,” a storyline “The Simpsons” boldly addressed. It depicted the arrest of a high-ranking FIFA official amid bribery accusations. Just a year later, several top FIFA officials were arrested in real life during a massive corruption investigation, proving the show’s predictive prowess once again.

“The Simpsons” Predicted the Smartwatch: Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

Smartwatches appeared in “Lisa’s Wedding” well before becoming a reality. In this futuristic episode, Lisa’s fiancé uses his watch to make a call. While it seemed far-fetched then, smartwatches are now a standard part of everyday life, proving just how ahead of the curve “The Simpsons” was.

The Shard in London: Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

The skyline in “Lisa’s Wedding” included a peculiar skyscraper resembling The Shard in London, which didn’t exist then. Construction of The Shard began in 2009, 14 years after the episode aired. The building’s uncanny resemblance to the one in the show left fans impressed by the foresight.

U.S. Wins Gold in Curling: Season 21, Episode 12 (2010)

Marge and Homer unexpectedly lead the U.S. curling team to victory over Sweden in “Boy Meets Curl.” It seemed like pure fiction until the 2018 Winter Olympics, where the U.S. men’s curling team achieved their first gold medal by beating Sweden in the event, making this prediction particularly remarkable.

The Censorship of Michelangelo’s David: Season 2, Episode 9 (1990)

Springfield citizens rally to protest the display of Michelangelo’s statue of David in “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge,” demanding it be covered. Fast forward to 2016, and a similar controversy arose in Russia, where locals voted on whether to clothe a copy of the statue, echoing the episode’s plot.

The Horse Meat Scandal: Season 5, Episode 19 (1994)

Students unknowingly consume lunches made from “assorted horse parts,” thanks to Lunchlady Doris in “Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Baadasssss Song.” This dark joke mirrored reality in 2013, when the U.K. and Europe were rocked by a scandal involving horse meat being found in various beef products, highlighting another unsettlingly accurate foretelling by the show.

The Higgs Boson Particle: Season 10, Episode 2 (1998)

In a surprising twist, Homer’s blackboard equation in “The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace” predicts the Higgs boson particle’s mass. This discovery wouldn’t be confirmed until 2012. Scientists have marveled at how the show came close to its value years before its discovery.

Three-Eyed Fish: Season 2, Episode 4 (1990)

Pollution near a nuclear power plant leads to the discovery of Blinky, a three-eyed fish, in “Bart the Daredevil.” A similar scenario occurred in 2011 when fishermen in Argentina caught a three-eyed fish near a nuclear facility, leading to eerie comparisons and concerns about environmental pollution.

Autocorrect Fails: Season 6, Episode 8 (1994)

“The Simpsons” predicted the autocorrect phenomenon in “Lisa on Ice,” where Dolph’s attempt to write “Beat up Martin” on a Newton device gets autocorrected to “Eat up Martha.” This humorous prediction became a reality when autocorrect failure became a common frustration for smartphone users, making the show’s foresight spot on.

The NSA Scandal: “The Simpsons Movie”

In “The Simpsons Movie,” the NSA spies on citizens’ conversations, a scenario that appeared exaggerated until Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations about the NSA’s widespread surveillance activities. The episode’s portrayal of government overreach struck a chord with viewers, showing how the show often blurred the line between satire and reality.

Virtual Reality Games: Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

Virtual reality games were imagined as an everyday experience in “Lisa’s Wedding.” Fast forward to today, and V.R. gaming has become a significant part of the gaming industry. The episode’s depiction of immersive experiences through technology predicted a future that is now very much our reality.

FarmVille: Season 9, Episode 12 (1998)

An unexpected prediction came in “Bart Carny,” where kids play a virtual farming game reminiscent of “FarmVille,” which became a social media sensation over a decade later. The episode accurately predicted online gaming’s rise and future impact on millions, marking a pivotal trend in the gaming industry.

Faulty Voting Machines: Season 20, Episode 4 (2008)

Homer’s attempt to vote for Barack Obama is thwarted by a malfunctioning machine that switches his vote to John McCain in “Treehouse of Horror XIX.” This scenario became a reality in the 2012 election when reports emerged of machines in Pennsylvania switching votes from Obama to Mitt Romney, echoing Homer’s frustrating experience.

Greece’s Economic Crisis: Season 23, Episode 10 (2012)

“Europe puts Greece on eBay” flashes on a news ticker in “Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson,” blending satire with current events. The joke about Greece’s financial struggles turned eerily accurate shortly after the country faced a severe economic crisis, leading to talks of potential bankruptcy and international bailouts.

The Rise of Influencer Marketing: Season 7, Episode 11 (1995)

In “Marge Be Not Proud,” the idea of using video game characters as influencers was introduced way ahead of its time. What felt unlikely in the ’90s has since become a reality. Today, influencer marketing thrives, with social media stars endorsing brands. The Simpsons once again showcased their ability to predict future trends.

Paul McCartney’s Fan Mail: Season 2, Episode 18 (1991)

A long-awaited reply from Ringo Starr leaves Marge stunned, many years after her initial fan mail in “Brush with Greatness.” Fast-forward to 2013, and a real-life parallel unfolds when two fans receive a reply from Paul McCartney 22 years after their letter goes missing. This remarkable coincidence showcases how life sometimes imitates art.

Futuristic Digital Billboards: Season 2, Episode 11 (1990)

Introducing digital billboards in 1990, “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish” showcased a concept that was considered futuristic. These billboards flashed eye-catching messages, a technology that wasn’t widespread until the mid-2000s. The show demonstrated remarkable foresight in predicting the rise of this now-ubiquitous advertising medium.

Daenerys Targaryen’s Big Plot Twist: Season 29, Episode 1 (2017)

Eerily echoing Daenerys Targaryen’s final-season turn in Game of Thrones, a dragon decimates a village in “The Serfsons.” Fans couldn’t ignore the similarities between the episode and Daenerys’ fiery wrath as it was another example of The Simpsons’ uncanny ability to predict significant pop culture moments.