For more than 30 years, The Simpsons has made us chuckle. But it’s also been scaring us. But why? Viewers from all over the world have discovered that the show is almost always correct in its predictions for the future. The comic moments that punctuate each episode have turned into a crystal ball with which to forecast the future. The show has predicted tragedies and death from famous people, scientific discoveries, sports results but also more superficial situations, like outfits celebrities were going to wear. You still don’t believe us? Take a look at some of these outlandish predictions that came true. How did they figure it out? Maybe, we should ask their creators what will happen in the next decades.
Three Eyed Radioactive Fish – Season 2, Episode 4
Back in 1990, The Simpsons imagined mutated fish. The forecast came true only ten years later. Blinky was, as you may recall, a casualty of the Springfield nuclear power plant. Radiation is dangerous, and the lake creatures were the ones who paid the highest price on the episode.
We hope to never have to deal with something like that. Sadly, it does exist in some places of the world. When a person captured a three-eyed fish near a power plant in Argentina, Blinky came to life. The river was flowing with water from the reactor in this scenario!
Schools that Serve Pork – Season 5, Episode 19
Beef, chicken, pork, and fish are the most common foods we eat. On The Simpsons, a lunch lady served horsemeat to the students in one episode. It was amusing, but we never expected it to happen in real life. It did, however, happen in Ireland. When a government organization sought to test local beef, they discovered horse DNA in more than a third of the batches!
Pork was found in the majority of the samples, which can be offensive to people of particular faiths. We’re amazed that the Simpsons knew stallion stew was on the way. We are, of course, disgusted.
Michaelongelo’s David gets Censored – Season 5, Episode 10
One of the most famous sculptures in the world is Michelangelo’s David. In recent years, the nude male has angered some cultures. In 2016, a campaign in Russia asked that all Renaissance statues be clothed. Why is all of their garbage dangling in front of children? The fact that The Simpsons foresaw this outrage in season 2 is a more interesting aspect of this event.
Springfielders protested the statue’s exposed nether parts in one episode. David was dressed in jeans, which was a strange sight. That hasn’t happened yet in real life. He’s still there, proud and towering, for all to see.
A White Tiger Hits Roy – Season 5, Episode 10
For decades, Siegfried and Roy captivated everyone as part of the Las Vegas scene. What a team! Audiences assumed they knew everything there was to know about safety standards. However, when a white tiger mauled Roy on stage, it became clear that Tigers are unpredictable. The Simpsons correctly predicted the incident itself. Roy was mauled by his tiger, Mantecore, 20 years after the episode describing the event!
It’s all quite strange. Roy, on the other hand, was not enraged when the inevitable occurred. “Mantecore is a nice kitty,” he insisted on the way to the hospital. “Make certain Mantecore is safe.”
Prediction of Arnold Palmer Death – Season 28, Episode 1
“I began my day … by exercising and then downing a quart of water as my grandmother used to do in order to get the plumbing properly running,” renowned golfer Arnold Palmer once stated. The man lived well into his eighties, reaching the age of 87. His ancient ticker finally gave up.
But our primary question is: how did The Simpsons know when he was going to die? This prediction was made in the first episode of Season 28 just hours before Arnold died. We believe that many of the show’s forecasts are accurate, but this one was incredible.
The Ending of Game of Thrones – Season 29, Episode 1
To say the least, Game of Thrones was an international phenomenon. Perhaps it wasn’t as popular as The Simpsons, but, while it was on, the intrigue with this fantasy sci-fi was much stronger. People were fascinated with it. According to Homer, he was the only one who knew. A satire in the animation appears to indicate how King’s Landing would be destroyed before the first episode ever aired.
Homer resurrected a fiery reptile that went on to annihilate countless, just as Daenerys Targaryen did. Perhaps we feel sorry for the people trapped beyond the wall. The accuracy, on the other hand, is delightful!
Scam with Poodles – Season 13, Episode 22
Fat Tony was always planning a ruse. It’s not surprising, given that he’s the mafia’s boss in Springfield. However, one of his ruses went too far. He was apprehended the day he decided to market ferrets as poodles. That seemed ridiculous to us. But we never imagined somebody would try that nonsense with real ferrets in real life. Someone, it turned out, had done so. It was featured on the evening news!
Giant ferrets were repackaged as poodles by criminals in Argentina. It appears there’s nothing people won’t do these days to make fast cash. But don’t say we weren’t warned by The Simpsons!
Homer Discovered the Higgs Boson Equation – Season 8, Episode 1
Homer may have a reputation for being a moron, but that changed in Season 8. He became a respected mathematician in between donuts. Viewers probably assumed nothing would come of him scribbling some hard math. His equation, however, was a well-known formula that scientists had been attempting to solve since the 1960s. How did the writers of the show know that the mass of the Higgs boson particle was about to be confirmed?
It was proven to be true in 2013. Many viewers may be unaware that many of the show’s authors are academics. Perhaps one of them had an inside scoop!
FIFA was corrupt – Season 25, Episode 16
In 2014, Homer was consulted about their image by a fictional international group. They tried to bribe him into becoming a referee for them in exchange for his integrity, but Homer refused. We chuckled since soccer appears to be such a clean sport. Fans were shocked to learn about a similar issue within FIFA a year later.
Following a joint IRS-FBI investigation, fourteen officials were charged with corruption. Who could have foreseen it? The Simpsons. And we’re not surprised. We have faith in their predictions. But we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you’ll ever trust FIFA again.
Homer killing snakes – Season 4, Episode 14
During Season 4, Homer participated in a ridiculous sport on Whacking Day, a holiday. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill snakes, and he took advantage of it. We had no notion, however, that people from Florida would be doing something similar in the future. The Python Challenge was the name of their game. However, the concept remained essentially the same. How did the authors foresee this occurrence?
We shouldn’t be surprised, after all. Burmese pythons abound in the Everglades, and some Floridians believe they must be relocated. What do they think they’re doing slithering about like that?
The Pinnacle of a Skyscraper – Season 6, Episode 19
The Simpsons included the London skyline in Season 6, but many spotted a difference between the cartoon and reality. The pinnacle of a skyscraper did not exist in 1995 but can be seen on the left. Why did the animators of the program place it there? There is now speculation that they foresaw the development of a prominent skyscraper that already stands there. It’s known as The Shard!
The structure was completed in 2012. It can be found to the left of Big Ben. Is the Fox room run by psychics or did the architects get inspired while watching the show?
The Outfit from Lady Gaga – Season 23, Episode 21
Lady Gaga was an animated Simpsons character back in 2012. At her Superbowl halftime act in Springfield, fans were ecstatic to see her dressed entirely in yellow. They had no idea that five years later, she would be the featured performer at the real-life football championship. She’d make her dramatic entrance dangling from the air, just like on the show. Does life imitate art or the other way around?
We don’t know if the show’s creators are psychics or if Lady Gaga is a huge Homer fan herself. For the time being, everyone engaged is maintaining a poker face.
The Invention of Tomacco – Season 11, Episode 5
Tomacco was a new, disgusting crop created by Homer’s imagination and a little nuclear energy in 1999. That was, until it wasn’t! In 2003, a real-life devotee attempted to make the hybrid. To make the plant, he grafted a tomato stem and a tobacco root together. What happened at the end of the experiment?
The show’s writers were apparently impressed. The farmer showed up at the office with his nasty new vegetables to show off. But, aside from the novelty factor, The Simpsons were spot on in their prediction that it would fail to catch on. Who would buy this product willingly?
USA’s Triumph in Curling – Season 21, Episode 12
Curling is a sport that is not well-known in the United States. It was a shock when America defeated Sweden in a minor Olympic competition. Who knew this was even a thing, and how did they pull it off? “In the eighth end, we didn’t quite get the rocks where we wanted them, and they threw a lot of rocks in the house, and we were forced to go all in,” one of the Swedish team members recounted.
It’s fascinating that The Simpsons foresaw this scenario many years ago. A fictional final between the two nations was previously presented on the show.
Nobel Prize Winner – Season 22, Episode 1
The Nobel Prize is a prestigious award, and it is an accolade that frequently hits the news. Professor Bengt Holmström of MIT was the winner in 2016. Is he aware, though, that The Simpsons foresaw his big moment? Lisa debated with her classmates about Nobel predictions six years before the decision, and their betting card included Bengt’s name.
On the show, at least one staff writer has a math degree. Is it surprising that personal interests make an appearance in episodes? We’re aware that this occurs, and we eagerly await further scholarly rumors. In certain ways, we do.
Twitter New ‘X’ Logo – The Simpsons episode “Ned ‘n’ Edna’s Blend Agenda”
Another moment of prophetic brilliance revolves around Twitter’s new X logo. Although Twitter just launched this fresh symbol, The Simpsons, it seems, had an insight about this years ago. Picture this: it’s 2012, and in the episode “Ned ‘n’ Edna’s Blend Agenda”, the show’s narrative navigates around Ned Flanders’s clandestine marriage to Edna Krabappel. Amidst the intriguing narrative, a particular detail grabs the viewers’ attention.
In one scene, we see Homer carelessly fumbling with his phone. Yet, eagle-eyed viewers will note that an app icon bears an uncanny resemblance to what we now know as Twitter’s revamped X logo. Just as the South Park episode “Simpsons Already Did It” humorously points out the comprehensive reach of The Simpsons’ storylines, this instance underscores just how ahead of its time the show was, even in tech trends. This further cements the legendary status of Matt Groening’s creation and its incredible knack for predicting the future.
Miley’s Wrecking Ball – The Simpsons Movie
Homer tried to stop a 5,000-pound wrecking ball in The Simpsons Movie by softening the impact with his beer belly. So, how did that go? We’re not going to tell you what happens in that scene. But instead, we’ll make a visual connection between Homer and Miley Cyrus. Sure, it appears that they have very little in common. But there’s one thing you left out!
During her music video for the song Wrecking Ball, the vocalist expertly swung on a similar wrecking ball. We’re not sure if it was foreshadowed by the episode or if Miley stole Homer’s thunder here.
Super Bowl Winner – Season 3, Episode 1
Few people are ready to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to sports betting. The Simpsons have a habit of animating their big game predictions. Take, for example, Super Bowl XXVI. Lisa predicted that the Washington Redskins will win just a few days before the game. That is precisely what occurred. It wasn’t a fluke, either! The presentation also anticipated the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers.
We can’t say that the show’s creators are aware of all of the potential winners. However, for a gambler, seeing this cartoon can be rewarding. Their present track record is outstanding!
Disney Buys Fox – Season 10, Episode 5
The Simpsons offered us a sneak peek at a forthcoming merger before the rest of the world knew about it. Was it an informed estimate or did the writers have inside information? We don’t know. Fans of the show were not surprised when Disney purchased 20th Century Fox. When the 20th Century Fox headquarters were designated “a branch of Walt Disney Co,” the Simpsons did it first twenty years before.
The Disney family paid $52.4 billion in 2017 to significantly expand their company. They’re most likely not finished yet. Perhaps the writers will have more foresight into the commercial world.
Missing Fan Video – Season 2, Episode 18
Ringo answered misplaced fan mail on The Simpsons in 1991. He had a lot of bags to answer decades after the band disbanded, and he did. Amazingly, Paul McCartney really responded to a few grown-up Beatles teens in 2013 with a belated response. At a resale event, a missing video question was unearthed.
Paul answered to their greeting 50 years later: “Good day, Linda and Barbara! Thank you so much for your beautiful tape. It made it through in the end, better late than never… It’s wonderful to hear you’ve reconnected after all these years… Continue to appreciate the music, Paul.”
Autocorrect function
Springfield Elementary School’s bullies once tried to plot on low-tech tablets. The creators of the show included a new feature that appears to be similar to our present autocorrect. Martin was fortunate in that “beat up Martin” became “eat up Martha” every time they typed it.
The Simpsons is a show that is always a step ahead of its time. Autocorrect is a significant part of our life now, whether we like it or not. It can be beneficial, but it can also be harmful. Apple believes that this episode aided in the development of its keyboard features!
The Crisis in Greece
The Simpsons had some exciting news to deliver in a 2012 episode. Homer communicated rubbish as a guest on cable news that we don’t even remember. The ticker beneath his photograph, though, caught our attention. “Europe puts Greece on eBay,” reads the feed. That turned out to be far more important than anyone had anticipated. The Mediterranean was thrown into disarray just a year later.
Greece defaulted on the IMF because it was deeply in debt. This was a surprising error for a Euro nation, and it dominated the news for a long time. What was The Simpsons’ secret to getting this right?
The Scam with Grease
Homer Simpson is the only person who could possibly enjoy a get-rich-quick scam. We know this because of his absurd grease business, in which he smuggled restaurant grease into his vehicle for resale using a long tube. Until he was caught, it was a terrific profit model. We can’t envision anyone else doing something like this. But, in reality, someone did, and it all happened in New York City.
As a side business, unscrupulous con artists in the city began selling restaurant grease. Was it because they had just watched The Simpsons? We have no idea, but the show foresaw it.
The Arrival of the Smartwatch
The Simpsons frequently use make-believe technology. It’s much easier to animate an idea than it is to make it work in the real world. However, as time passes, a lot of bizarre ideas emerge, like this smartwatch in 1995. They were used by Lisa and her love interest in season six, but they were simply a fantasy at the time.
But now, the Apple Watch is here, and other smartwatches are on the way. You could actually sneak about Springfield and use a little wrist computer to communicate with your beloved. Since then, the designs have become much more refined.
A Normal Guy in Space
The Simpsons have traveled to many places. Homer was once picked for a NASA mission as a regular guy. We’re not sure if he would have been our first or even final choice. We did, however, love watching him fly through the air and chase donuts in zero gravity. In the real world, a competition to send an ordinary citizen into orbit was held in the United Kingdom.
Oliver Knight, 25, was picked for the once-in-a-lifetime trip after a thorough selection procedure. He was one of 22 contest winners from all over the world. The rest, as they say, is history.
Invasion of Privacy
The Simpsons Movie had a critical national security forecast back in 2007. Marge, ever the good citizen, disclosed a plot to expose corrupt government dealings. However, she was unable to do so in private. Why? When the cartoon camera panned out, you could see a large room filled with agents listening in on the chat. Fans today claim that this was a foreshadowing of the National Security Agency’s snooping powers.
Americans are confronted with this breach of privacy on a daily basis. In 2013, Edward Snowden revealed their operations. To say the least, it’s been a hot topic ever since.
Ebola Reaches the US
Some people believe that The Simpsons foresaw Ebola’s arrival in America. Marge read a strange bedtime tale called “Curious George and the Ebola Outbreak” back in season 9. We were relieved to know that it was a work of fiction. It seemed impossible at the moment that it could ever come to the US. This was, after all, a tropical sickness. Springfield, surely, was safe!
A tiny outbreak did strike America 17 years later. The nightmare pandemic was rapidly brought under control. However, credit must be given where credit is due. The Simpsons were the first to predict it!
Translate Baby’s Cries
We often wonder what our baby’s gurgles and cries are attempting to tell us. We can only speculate at best. But wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could have a translator look it over? In season three, there was a machine that claimed to be able to do that. The concept seemed good, but it didn’t exist in reality. You might be relieved to learn that there is now an app for it.
Herb, Homer’s half-brother, made the forecast in the early 1990s. There’s also the “Cry Translator” app. We’re not quite there yet with mind reading, but we’re getting there!
Digital Voting Machines that Malfunction – Season 20, Episode 4
During an episode from 2008 on elections, The Simpsons showed a malfunctioning polling machine. When Homer attempted to select Obama on the screen, the results revealed that he had chosen Mitt Romney. Was it wiser to use digital voting instead of traditional paper ballots? To be honest, the discussion on that one is still going on. However, at least one documented blunder occurred in real life.
In Pennsylvania, malfunctioning voting machines were discovered in 2008. The touchscreen bug was exactly the same! The world was obliged to concede, yet again, four years after the episode aired: The Simpsons predicted that.
Vice President’s Outfit – Season 11, Episode 17
Over the years, The Simpsons has covered a variety of fictitious political events. The program got the Vice President’s clothing right for Inauguration Day in 2021. Lisa wore something similar as the first female president in an episode from the year 2000. Despite the fact that Kamala was second in line, the analogy seemed uncannily identical, which was incredible.
The sophisticated blue blazer, the necklace, and the earrings are all present. That isn’t the strangest thing, either. Lisa makes a reference to the former president, Donald Trump, in this episode. How could they have known that in the year 2000?
Donald Trump Becoming President – Season 11, Episode 17
The depiction of Donald Trump running for president was maybe one of the most bizarre forecasts in the show’s history. He was a businessman at the time. Even though he had mentioned it in interviews a few times, he hadn’t made a move. Until he finally did! In 2016, Donald Trump used a showy escalator ride to announce his official presidential intentions.
The fact that The Simpsons authors had shown the future was impressive enough. They did it on an escalator, too! When you compare the two, it’s astonishing. It’s all right here, dating back to season 11 in 1999.