Predictive Episodes: Unveiling 'The Simpsons' Prophetic Moments

Do the writers of The Simpsons possess the ability to time travel, or do they have a connection to Nostradamus? The Simpsons consistently captivates viewers with its uncanny predictions that later prove to be true.

Comprised of various characters, the main members of the Simpsons family include Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), Marge (voiced by Julie Kavner), Lisa (voiced by Yeardley Smith), Bart (voiced by Nancy Cartwright), and Maggie. Each episode showcases the interactions of the Simpsons family with other residents of Springfield, including guest stars who make appearances. However, what fascinates viewers is the instances where The Simpsons writers forecasted events that occurred at least five years later. So, what exactly did The Simpsons predict? Is it possible that the show genuinely foresees global events, or is it merely coincidental that the world aligns with The Simpsons' storylines?

Updated on October 24, 2023, by Hannah Saab:

In the midst of the 35th season of the enduring sitcom being broadcasted currently, viewers are treated to a resurgence of more imaginative, impactful, and clever plotlines that harken back to the cherished golden eras of The Simpsons. No doubt, the unconventional storylines of the recent seasons will be added to the ever-growing list of Simpsons predictions; however, it remains uncertain which ones will actually materialize in the years to come.

20 A Submersible Disaster

Season 17, Episode 10 (2006)

This year, fans of The Simpsons noticed a striking similarity between the Titanic submersible disaster and the events depicted in the episode "Homer's Paternity Coot." In the episode, Homer reunites with a man he believes to be his long-lost father and embarks on a deep-sea expedition in search of an old ship. During the journey, a disaster occurs and Homer finds himself trapped, only to awaken in a hospital several days later.

19 The God Particle

Last June witnessed a tragic incident as a real-life submersible, with five passengers on board, tragically imploded while en route to the sunken Titanic. This expedition, aimed at exploring the wreckage, captured global attention and provoked essential discussions concerning the necessity of enhanced safety regulations and protocols in order to prevent any possibility of a similar occurrence in the future.

Season 10, Episode 2 (1998)

In "The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace," a surprising Simpsons prediction emerges as Homer strives to become an influential inventor, emulating Thomas Edison. In a brief moment of the episode, Homer's seemingly nonsensical chalkboard scribbles are revealed to be a complex mathematical equation.

According to renowned British science writer Simon Singh, Homer's final calculation on the chalkboard is remarkably close to the 2012 CERN Higgs boson discovery. Singh noted that if one works out the equation, it yields a mass for the Higgs boson that is only marginally larger than its actual nano-mass. He described it as truly remarkable that Homer made this prediction 14 years before the scientific community's official discovery.

18 Malfunctioning Voter Machines

Season 20, Episode 4 (2008)

The episode "Treehouse of Horror XIX" appears to have foreseen an electoral mishap involving former President Barack Obama. In a short scene, Homer is seen casting his vote for Obama in a voting booth, only to discover later that it had been mistakenly recorded as a vote for John McCain.

17 Real Tomacco Plants

In 2012, a viral YouTube video unveiled an incident where a vote was inaccurately recorded in Pennsylvania. Instead of registering the vote for Obama, it seemed to have been credited to Mitt Romney, causing widespread public outcry and sparking controversy.

Season 11, Episode 5 (1999)

When Homer discovers agriculture, a series of wacky calamities ensues. Utilizing nuclear elements from the power plant, Homer embarks on creating a mutated hybrid plant known as the "tomacco" in the episode "E-I-E-I-D'oh!" This unconventional fusion of tomato and tobacco plants creates a rift between Homer and his family due to the potential for financial gain.

Similar unsettling occurrences were observed in real life near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where deformed vegetables and fruits eerily resembling Homer's creation appeared. Fortunately, nobody has attempted to exploit these monstrous mutations for profit. However, it is not completely implausible to envision less alarming variations of such produce making their way into supermarket shelves in the future.

16 Accessible Space Travel

Season 5, Episode 15 (1994)

"Deep Space Homer" was a pivotal episode for The Simpsons, not just because it showcased renowned guests like Buzz Aldrin from Apollo 11 and musician James Taylor, but also because it marked a shift in the creators' mindset, daring to explore beyond conventional boundaries (or at least they believed so).

15 Smartwatches

: The once-impractical notion of an ordinary individual venturing into space has evolved into a widely embraced concept, with commercial space travel on the horizon. The emergence of "all-civilian spaceflights" in recent times demonstrates that Homer's seemingly improbable encounter has transformed into an attainable reality for select individuals today.

Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

In "Lisa's Wedding," a classic episode from season 6 of The Simpsons, there were several jokes about future technology, but only one accurately predicted the future. The episode briefly featured Hugh talking to his watch, which foreshadowed the eventual popularity of smartwatches. Although this moment seemed insignificant at the time, it emphasized advancements like digital watches and voice recognition that are now common today. Unfortunately, Hugh's attempts to propose to Lisa using this technology did not go as planned.

14 Serving Horse Meat

Season 5, Episode 19 (1994)

It is important to be cautious of the food served at Springfield Elementary, as a comical scene highlights Lunchlady Doris' questionable culinary skills. The gag hilariously exposes her nonchalant addition of horse meat to the children's meals. While this may be amusing within the realm of a television show, it is certainly not a laughing matter in reality.

A report by The Guardian revisits the notorious 2013 "horse meat scandal," where 29% of the meat in Tesco burgers was found to be sourced from animals other than beef. Countless "beef" items were swiftly withdrawn from shelves across Europe, sparking understandable public outrage over the shocking compromise in the supply chain.

13 Three-eyed Fish

Season 2, Episode 4 (1990)

Blinky, the three-eyed fish from The Simpsons, is an integral part of the show's most memorable episodes. Serving as a comical symbol of the detrimental effects caused by Mr. Burns' nuclear plant on the town's ecosystem, Blinky represents the mutation of flora and fauna caused by these activities, which the residents either accept or choose to ignore.

Interestingly, Blinky also exists in real life. More than ten years ago, Argentinian fishermen discovered a three-eyed wolf fish in a reservoir located near a nuclear plant – a scenario reminiscent of the show. The surprise of the fishermen is described in a ZME report, which refers to this discovery as a "rare specimen." However, the article does not mention any connection to Mr. Burns or his fictional counterpart.

12 Baby Translator

Season 3, Episode 24 (1992)

In a special episode featuring Homer's half-brother Herb (voiced by Danny DeVito), he unveils an extraordinary invention that has the potential to bring him immense wealth. Herb introduces the world to a groundbreaking device known as the baby translator, capable of accurately deciphering the mysterious babbling of infants.

Today, there are numerous apps available on the app store that function as "baby translators." Cry Translator, BabyTalk Translator, and Zoundream are just a few examples of these apps, which are designed to provide a rough approximation of what an infant's cry might indicate. Although these apps may not possess the same level of sophistication as Herb's invention, there is no denying the inventor's admirable contributions and the widespread impact of his innovation.

11 Censoring Michelangelo's David

Season 2, Episode 9 (1990)

Marge's encounter with censorship teaches her a valuable lesson as the residents of Springfield demand the censorship of Michelangelo's iconic masterpiece, David. In a comical attempt to appease the outraged community, the statue is humorously concealed with a pair of jeans to make it more socially acceptable and avoid any nudity-related controversy.

In 2016, a replica of the statue exhibited in St. Petersburg created a stir, leading to a citizen vote on covering it up or removing it altogether. Similarly, this year, a school in Florida considered the statue too "pornographic" to be shown to students, resulting in the mayor of Florence, Italy inviting the principal to personally witness the statue.

10 Lady Gaga and The Superbowl

Season 23, Episode 22 (2012)

Image via 20th Century Fox

In a Superbowl episode of The Simpsons, there was a prediction about a musical artist's performance. The episode "Lisa Goes Gaga" aired in 2012, wherein Lady Gaga paid a visit to Springfield. She mesmerized the audience by performing her songs while soaring above them, and even showcased her piano skills during the concert.

In 2017, Gaga wowed the crowd at the Superbowl LI Halftime Show with an electrifying performance of her chart-topping hits such as "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance." Adding to the spectacle, Gaga was suspended above the mesmerized audience during her halftime show. As the show progressed, she mesmerized once again, this time by showcasing her talent on the piano with a beautiful rendition of "Million Reasons."

9 Walt Disney and Fox Merger

Season 10, Episode 5 (1998)

Image via 20th Century Fox

In 1998, during the episode "When You Wish Upon a Star," Homer had a chance encounter with Alec Baldwin (voiced by Baldwin) and Kim Basinger (voiced by Basinger). Intrigued, Homer proposed a movie idea to the executives at 20th Century Fox when he called them. Curiously, the subsequent scene of the episode revealed that 20th Century Fox was now under the ownership of Walt Disney.

This particular scene has gained notoriety as it aligns with one of the many uncanny predictions made by The Simpsons. In March 2019, Walt Disney stunned the world with the announcement of its $71 billion merger with 21st Century Fox. Fast forward to 2021, Disney and Fox reached an agreement regarding the streaming rights for their respective films. This settlement outlined which movies would exclusively appear on Hulu/Disney+ or HBO Max, and it also established a deadline for the agreement.

8 Trump Presidency

Season 11, Episode 17 (2000)

The image provided showcases the 20th Century Fox logo.

Premiering in 2000, the episode titled "Bart to the Future" offers a glimpse into the future of Bart Simpson and his sister. In this future, Lisa Simpson becomes the leader of the country, revealing that the United States has been entrusted with the responsibility of revitalizing the economy following the presidency of Donald Trump.

7 USA Curling Team

Not only was Trump elected President in 2016, but a striking resemblance to a scene from the show was witnessed in real life. In that very same episode, a throng of people observed as Donald Trump descended an escalator – an uncanny coincidence that confirms The Simpsons' ability to predict the future. In reality, President Trump also made a grand entrance on an escalator accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, while a group of fervent supporters gathered in the backdrop.

Season 21, Episode 12 (2010)

Image via 20th Century Fox

The episode "Boy Meets Curl," which premiered in 2010, featured Homer and Marge discovering that the skating arena was closed for curling practice. They decided to try their hand at curling and eventually ended up joining the U.S. Curling (Mixed Doubles) Team for the Winter Olympics. In this episode, the U.S. team achieved a remarkable victory, winning a gold medal and defeating Sweden.

In 2018, under the leadership of Josh Shuster, the U.S. Olympics Curling Team secured their first gold medal in Curling. They also triumphed over Sweden in the 2018 Olympic games, with a score of 10 to 7.

6 FaceTime

Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)

Image via 20th Century Fox

In 1995, the heartwarming Simpsons episode "Lisa's Wedding" featured a fortune-teller who predicted Lisa's future in 2010. According to the prediction, Lisa would marry her college sweetheart. Filled with excitement, she immediately called her mom. To her surprise, the phone she used had a screen that displayed Marge's real-time image, and it was attached to a rotary dial.

5 Matrix 4 Premiere

Skype, initially introduced in 2003, primarily functioned as a calling service exclusively for computers. However, in 2010, Apple revolutionized communication for its users by unveiling "FaceTime," an application that enabled individuals not only to engage in conversations but also to visually connect with the person at the other end through their phone's camera.

Season 15, Episode 14 (2004)

Image via 20th Century Fox

In the 2004 episode "The Ziff Who Came To Dinner" of The Simpsons, there was a subtle prediction that may have been overlooked. During the opening scene, there was a movie poster behind Homer Simpson with the text "A Matrix Christmas," hinting at a holiday-themed version of The Matrix starring Keanu Reeves as Neo. However, it's important to note that The Matrix series had already been released prior to this episode. The original Matrix film came out in 1999, followed by The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003. It was only in 2021 that the next installment in The Matrix franchise, The Matrix Resurrections, was released. Sadly, the poster shown in "The Ziff Who Came To Dinner" did not accurately depict Neo wearing a Christmas hat.

4 A Pandemic

Season 4, Episode 21 (1993)

Image via 20th Century Fox

The episode "Marge in Chains" was aired by the Simpsons in 1993. It centers around Marge (voiced by Kavner) who is accused of shoplifting and consequently sentenced to prison. Furthermore, the rest of Springfield falls victim to the Osaka Flu following the arrival of a product shipment in the town.

3 Murder Hornets

The Osaka Flu, like the COVID-19 pandemic, caused a similar global outbreak. Originating in a different country, the Osaka Flu eventually reached the U.S. However, there was no immediate treatment available during this episode. Similar to the situation with the COVID-19 virus, the doctor in the episode recommended that patients rest in bed while scientists were still in the process of testing a vaccine.

Season 4, Episode 21 (1993)

Image via 20th Century Fox

In the same episode where The Simpsons predicted a pandemic, they also hinted at another outbreak. In the episode "Marge in Chains," a group of people clamored for a placebo to heal their illness. When a member of the crowd pointed out a truck carrying the placebos, the crowd accidentally toppled the truck, unleashing a swarm of aggressive "killer bees."

Around the same time as the COVID-19 outbreak, there were sightings of the Asian Giant Hornet in the United States, which is considered a type of "killer bee." The Asian Giant Hornet posed a significant threat to the bee population and The New York Times reported that it could decimate entire bee colonies.

2 Tom Hanks Endorses the US

'The Simpsons Movie' (2007)

Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox

In The Simpsons Movie (2007), a surprise appearance was made by renowned actor Tom Hanks during a commercial scene that the Simpson family was watching. Within the commercial, a father took his two children to visit the iconic Grand Canyon, yet his daughter remained unimpressed by the landmark, wishing for something new and extraordinary in its place. Suddenly, Hanks enters the scene, remarking, "With the US government losing its credibility, they are now borrowing some of mine."

In 2022, a year following President Joe Biden's tenure, Hanks featured in an advertisement expressing the resilience of the American people amid the economic challenges provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The video centered on the theme of America's economic reconstruction and underscored the accomplishments achieved by Biden's administration up to that point.

1 Legal Reeferino in Canada

Season 16, Episode 6 (2005)

In the 2005 episode titled "Midnight Rx," Ned joins Homer and Grampa on their illicit travels to Canada in order to obtain medication for his own children. During his visit, Ned encounters his Canadian counterpart and discovers their contrasting ways of life, particularly when he is offered a legal joint, referred to as a "reeferino."

Fast forward to 2018, thirteen years later, when Canada legalized recreational marijuana. Although Ned is unlikely to revisit Canada with Apu, Homer, and Grampa, it is fascinating to acknowledge that The Simpsons accurately predicted this significant development.