Are you yellow-skinned, four-fingered, and psychic? Apparently, yes. If you’re a Simpsons fan (or even just someone who’s seen a meme or two), you’ve probably heard that this iconic cartoon has a weird habit of predicting the future. And not just in a humorous way; we’re talking about predictions that are dead-on and eerily accurate.
So, whether it involves presidents, tech trends, or global scandals, the writers of The Simpsons clearly possess a crystal ball, or they are simply exceptionally skilled at reading the room.
Let’s dive into the creepiest, weirdest, and most giggle-worthy moments when The Simpsons basically saw the future and said, “Hold my Duff.”
The Trump Presidency (2000)—LOL… but make it real
In 2000, during the Y2K panic, the episode “Bart to the Future” casually revealed President Donald Trump. Lisa becomes president and references the budget chaos left behind by… yup, Trump.
Fast forward to 2016, and America says, “You know what? Let’s actually do it.”
It started as a throwaway joke and ended in a real-life political plot twist. The writers must’ve been like, ‘Wait, what-the-actual-doughnut, WHAT?!
In 1995, smartwatches were already a thing.
In the episode “Lisa’s Wedding”, ‘Wait, her future fiancé uses his watch to make a call. Yes, in 1995. That was back when phones had cords, and the only wearable tech we had was a Tamagotchi.
Fast-forward to today, and we’ve got Apple Watches counting our steps, tracking our sleep, and telling us when to breathe (thanks, Siri).
Seriously… How?!
Wedding vibe: Check out Brides.com’s smartwatch style tips, because even your technology should look fabulous on your big day.
Disney Buying Fox (1998)—D’ohmination Wedding ”,
In “When You Wish Upon a Star” (1998) D’ohmination, a background sign shows 20th Century Fox as “A Division of Walt Disney Co.”
Guess what happened in 2019? Disney bought 21st Century Fox for a whopping $71 billion, proving once again that The Simpsons are the true Nostradamuses of our time.
Cue the Mickey Mouse takeover.
Related post: Your Disney Adulting Bucket List
Eat Up Martha: The Autocorrect Debacle (1994)
Way before iPhones and “ducking” autocorrect fails, The Simpsons gave us this classic moment: a Newton device changes “Beat up Martin” to “Eat up Martha.”
Rumour has it that Apple engineers were so enraged by this joke that they utilised it as inspiration to enhance autocorrect. So you’re welcome, iOS users.
The Shard in London (1995)—A sharp observation
When Lisa visits future London in “Lisa’s Wedding”, the skyline shows a tall, glassy, pyramid-like building behind Tower Bridge.
Londoners probably laughed at the time until 2009, when The Shard (eerily similar in design) popped up in real life. Coincidence? Alternatively, did the architects simply have a strong affinity for The Simpsons?
Are you planning your wedding near The Shard? Hitched.co.uk has you covered for chic London venues with skyline views.
Nobel Prize Winner? Sure, why not?
In a 2010 episode, Lisa’s pals bet on Nobel Prize winners. Was Bengt Holmström one of the names on their shortlist? Bengt Holmström. He won in real life six years later. That’s some next-level trivia night flex.
I mean, who casually predicts a Nobel Prize winner?
Related post: Weirdly Smart Shows You Should Be Watching
Game of Thrones ended in 2017 with fire and fury.
In “The Serfsons”, a dragon burns down an entire town. The entire show erupted into chaos, both literally and figuratively.
Well, you know the rest. The whole show went up in flames literally and metaphorically. Although they didn’t foresee every plot twist, The Simpsons perfectly captured the mood.
Are you still upset about the ending? Same.
The Horse Meat Scandal (1994)—Neigh-ver again
In “Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Baadasssss Song”, Lunch Lady Doris uses “assorted horse parts” in school lunches. This may seem gross, but it’s fiction, right?
WRONG. The actual horsemeat scandal shook Europe in 2013, making the seemingly insignificant scene feel incredibly real.
Related post: Fast Food Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
Final Thoughts: Coincidence Or time travel?
Maybe it’s just satire, maybe it’s just the law of probability or maybe Matt Groening has a time machine in his basement.
Either way, The Simpsons has gone from “silly little cartoon” to pop culture oracle. The writers aren’t just funny they’re eerily accurate. And honestly, we’re here for it. So, next time they joke about alien overlords or teleportation toilets… maybe take notes.
PS: Keep an eye on The Simpsons. You never know what’s about to come true next and when it does, you heard it here first.
