Three decades, 28 seasons, and over 600 episodes later, The Simpsons are still the most recognized television family. Matt Groening, the creator, managed to not only stay on top of cultural references but create events that eerily came true years later. Some may call it a coincidence, but we think these are some pretty unbelievable predictions.
SUPER BOWL WINNERS – THREE YEARS RUNNING
Gracie Films
Predicted: January 23, 1992
Came true: January 26, 1992 (and for the following three years)
Lisa and Homer enjoyed some father-daughter bonding by betting on sports together. During the episode, Lisa tells Homer that if Washington wins the Super Bowl against Buffalo, then she will still love him. The game ends with a win for Washington, and all is right in the family. Just 3 days later, during the Super Bowl, Jim Kelly throws four interceptions, and Washington goes on to win! For three years, FOX re-aired the episode, updating the teams for the specific Super Bowls, and somehow continuously managed to predict the winners correctly.
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE GOES TO…
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2010
Came true: 2016
During season 22, Martin bets on Bengt Holmstrom winning the Nobel Peace Prize in Economics…a full 6 years before it happened! You can see him holding up a scorecard of the Nobel Prize betting pool, and the MIT professor is clearly evident on one of squares.
CURLING ISN’T JUST FOR THE SWEDES
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2010
Came true: 2018
Curling requires the shuffling of a disk on ice and the Swedish are known for being the ultimate champions of the sport. In 2010, the show depicted Marge and Homer making it to the US mixed doubles curling team and beating the favored Swedish team. Eight years later, Team USA’s men curling team defeated Sweden at the 2018 Olympics, winning the US their first gold medal in the sport!
FOX AND THE MOUSE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1998
Came true: 2017
Back in 1998, The Simpsons jokingly hinted that 20th Century Fox would fall under the control of Walt Disney. Well, twenty years later, Disney acquired most of 20th Century Fox in a blockbuster deal worth $52 billion. The deal transferred ownership of multiple films, television series, and characters to the control of Disney – including The Simpsons!
THE GOD PARTICLE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1998
Came true: 2012
There was a major breakthrough in 2012 called the Higgs Boson, better known as the “God Particle”, which explained how everything in the universe has a mass. But, Homer Simpson seemingly predicted this equation…14 years earlier! In season 10, Homer Simpson attempts to become an inventor and is seen standing in front of a blackboard with an equation that predicts the mass of a (yet to be discovered) particle. According to scientists, if you work out the equation in the show, “you get the mass of a Higgs Boson that’s only slightly larger than the nano-mass of an actual Higgs Boson”.
THE LONDON SHARD
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2009
During the Simpsons trip to the future, viewers got a quick scan of what London will look like in just a few years. During the scene, many of London’s well-known skyscrapers could be seen, including the London Shard. Thing is, the Shard was only built 14 years after the episode premiered…
THE BEGINNING OF AUTOCORRECT
Gracie Films/Grace Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2007
During an assembly at Springfield Elementary School, Kearney asks Dolph to type “Beat up Martin” on his “Newton” – the earliest iPhone. When the device comprehends the message, it changes the text to “Eat up Martha”. This foreshadows Apple users’ common annoyance – messaging errors – that relates to the iPhone’s autocorrect technology. Funny enough, Apple’s director of engineering mentioned that “Eat up Martha” is stated when the keyboard needs to be fixed.
FACETIME…BEFORE FACETIME
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2010
When Lisa’s Wedding first premiered, watching Lisa have a face-to-face online chat with her mother to announce her engagement seemed outrageous. But, 15 years later, Apple announced the ‘newly’ developed “FaceTime” which allowed people to chat face-to-face with anyone across the globe via technological devices. It wasn’t a completely new concept thanks to The Simpsons.
2014 WORLD CUP
Gracie Films
Predicted: March 30, 2014
Came true: July 13, 2014
During You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee, the Simpson’s were invited to the World Cup tournament, and Homer was asked to referee. Throughout the episode, Germany beat the favored Brazilians and end up dominating the entire tournament. Referee Homer, on the other hand, ends up accepting side-deals and getting into trouble. Fast forward a couple of months, at the 2014 World Cup, Germany was crowned the champions and two FIFA presidents were accused of accepting negotiations. You must admit that The Simpsons were pretty spot on!
SMARTWATCHES
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2014
During an episode of The Simpsons, Lisa visits a fortune-teller at a renaissance fair and is transported 15 years into the future (to 2010). Lisa, at 23 years old, meets her husband-to-be who organizes a proposal through his wristwatch. Yes, he is talking to his watch! In 1995, this seemed crazy, but in 2014, Apple ‘newly-introduced’ the concept of a smartwatch, which allows users to talk to their watch.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1998
Came true: 2009
In The Simpsons, Marge Simpson wanted her children to learn how to tend to the yard. What better way than learning through virtual reality at a fair? In the 1998 episode, children sported a headset and tools that helped them take care of a virtual farm. Yes, in 1998, Matt Groening brought to light the benefits of virtual reality before it was even a thing! This was also seemingly the beginning of “Farmville”, which came out 10 years later.
DON MATTINGLY’S HAIR
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1992
Came true: 1992
In 1992, Mr. Burns hired New York Yankee, Don Mattingly, to sandbag competing softball teams. But, Mr. Burns kicked him off the team because of his long hair. Weirdly enough, just a month after recording the episode, the real-life Mattingly was fined $250 by the real New York Yankees for refusing to cut his hair.
THE ROLLING STONES STILL TOURING
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2016
Back in 1995, The Rolling Stones were at the top of their game, even after 30 years, so it made sense that they would still be rocking it out two decades later. During Lisa’s Wedding, Lisa had a poster of the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheelchair Tour 2016”. The Simpsons did it again because The Rolling Stones are still selling out tour tickets…in 2018!
CRYPTO-CREEPY
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1997
Came true: 1999
We aren’t saying The Simpsons predicted the concept of cryptocurrency, but they did reference the concept multiple times throughout the show. The first time it was referenced was in 1997 when Homer and Marge passed by a store called “Crypto Barn”. This was exactly two years before Milton Friedman, Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, predicted the use of digital currencies.
HORSING AROUND
Screenshot: Gracie Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2013
Lunch lady Doris was known for her bad food. So, it came as no surprise that Springfield Elementary was hiding a distasteful secret: the ‘magical’ ingredient in the cafeteria dinner was horse meat. Well, 20 years later, it was revealed that some beef in Europe was contaminated with horse meat, and sold as 100% beef. It slowly ended up in children’s lunch food around UK and Ireland. Coincidence?
“AVERAGE JOE” ASTRONAUT
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2013
During an episode of The Simpsons, NASA became concerned with the decline in public interest in space exploration, so they held an “average joe” contest. Homer Simpson fit the description perfectly and joined the civilian space exploration program. Weirdly enough, just 20 years later, an ‘average joe’, Oliver Knight, embarked on an “out of this world space odyssey”.
LETTER FROM THE BEATLES
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1991
Came true: 2014
Back in the day, there was an ongoing joke that the Beatles couldn’t answer all their fan mail. In 1991, The Simpsons decided to poke fun at this issue by showing Ringo Starr sitting in a pile of unanswered fan mail. 23 years later, the news reported that Paul McCartney finally took the time to respond to a tape two young girls recorded for the band fifty years earlier! Although the show got the band member wrong, it still counts.
TOTALLY TOMATOES
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1999
Came true: 2011
When Homer Simpson tests his skills in growing crops, he mixes in plutonium to help his tomatoes grow faster and larger. Homer ends up creating an extremely addictive vegetable. Although it sounds impossible, it happened in reality. When disaster struck in the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan it resulted in radiation leaking into fish and crops. Farmers found some really deformed tomatoes!
HIDDEN CAMERA…OR GO PRO
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2014
During the 1994 episode Homer and Apu, Homer uses a camera that is “hidden” under a huge hat. Twenty years later, the Go Pro was introduced. Users are able to attach a camera to a headband, allowing them to capture action shots.
BABY TRANSLATOR
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1992
Came true: 2015
Every parent wishes they could understand their baby’s babbling. Well, back in 1992, Homer’s brother, Herb, invented a device that interpreted the sounds baby Maggie was making. Fast forward 23 years, Taiwanese researchers created a prototype that translates 200,000 sounds from hundreds of babies and can tell you what their mood is based on the sound of their crying.
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS…
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2011
During Lemons of Troy, the kids from the neighboring city stole Springfield’s beloved lemon tree. This event only became significant when, in 2011, a couple in Wisconsin woke up to find their lemon tree missing. What are the odds?
STANLEY CUP IN LAS VEGAS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1999
Came true: 2017
During a 1999 episode, Ned Flanders and Homer Simpson took a boy’s trip to Las Vegas and ended up waking up at Nero’s Palace in an overturned hotel room. During a quick scan of the room, viewers could catch a glimpse of the Stanley Cup. The eery thing is that the Las Vegas Golden Knights didn’t debut until 2017 – 20 years after Homer’s trip to Vegas. Also, doesn’t this strangely resemble The Hangover, which came out ten years later?
I CAME IN LIKE A WRECKING BALL!
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2007
Came true: 2013
The “Wrecking Ball” was used by Homer Simpson on a demolition vehicle in an attempt to save his family. But, he ended up failing as the wrecking ball swung back, destroying a cabin and pinning down Homer. This might look familiar because Miley Cyrus was seen swinging on a Wrecking Ball during her infamous music video in 2013. Who did it better?
STEPHEN HAWKING SIMPSON-STYLE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1999
Came true: March 14, 2018
During They Saved Lisa’s Brain, Stephen Hawking raps “A Brief History of Rhyme”, and, of course, dresses the part. Attached to his wheelchair is a turntable, and around his neck is an E=MC² chain, the formula belonging to Einstein. Hawking’s passed away on March 14, 2018, surprisingly on Einsteins birthday. Fans eerily pointed out that because Hawking’s was wearing a chain with Einstein’s formula, The Simpsons seemingly predicted that Hawking’s and Einstein would somehow “merge”.
STAR WARS VS. ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2009
Came true: 2015
This one is quite eery! Homer Simpson got the lead role in the movie adaptation of Everyman. Homer visited “Ginormous Pictures”, the fictional Hollywood production studio, and at the entrance there were two posters hanging – Star Wars and Alvin and the Chipmunks 3, hinting that they were both premiering on the same date. Well, it came true! On December 18th, 2015, both Star Wars and Alvin and the Chipmunks were released…together.
HERE IT GOES AGAIN…
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2007
Came true: 2009
During a 2007 episode, Marge compared herself to a cardboard cutout of Wonder Woman and decided that she needed to slim down. She went to sign up for a big gym but ended up struggling with the treadmill. To make herself feel even worse, while looking around, she caught sight of fit gym goers easily using the treadmill and even dancing. Funny enough, two years later, OK Go released a music video featuring a routine on treadmills that looked eerily similar to the routine on the episode.
13 REASONS WHY SIMPSONS STYLE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2017
During Sideshow Bob Roberts, Bart was seen sitting in class listening to his cassette player. Although the plot was completely unrelated, the image clearly resembled Clay listening to the infamous tapes during class in 13 Reasons Why.
GOING GAGA FOR GAGA
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2012
Came true: 2017
In an effort to raise the spirit in Springfield, and more specifically, the spirits of Lisa Simpson, Lady Gaga decided to hold a concert for the city. During her concert, Gaga wore a platinum outfit and zoomed over the crowd attached to a wire. Almost five years after the episode aired, Lady Gaga was invited to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, and guess what? She flew over the crowd while attached to a wire in a platinum outfit!
CREDIT CARDS AND SOY SNACKS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2010
The Simpsons completely nailed this one! When the famous family was transported into the future, we saw Lisa’s husband-to-be purchasing a soy snack with a credit card in a vending machine. Currently, fewer and fewer people are carrying around cash, and more and more “enjoy” soy snacks.
GREASE MONEY
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1998
Came true: 2008
Homer Simpson discovered that he could make money by reselling grease. Viewers found this amusing and very impossible. But, they were proven wrong when, ten years later, men in New York were caught taking used cooking oil left outside restaurants and trying to sell it as biofuel.
ROBOTIC LIBRARIANS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2001
During Lisa’s Wedding, the Simpsons family were transported into a future where families could interact digitally and librarians were robots. While Lisa was attending college, she visited the library, which was run by robots! Weirdly enough, in 2001, a college in Chicago introduced robots that stack books in the library.
FIRST GENERATION IPOD
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1996
Came true: 2001
When Springfield residents tried to gain access to a secret club, they huddled around an intercom that, today, looks very familiar. You guessed it! The first-generation iPod. In 2001, Apple announced the release of the iPod, and The Simpson fans immediately recognized the eerie resemblance.
THE POWER OF GOOGLE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2011
Came true: not yet
During a trip to the future, Lisa Simpson stated that (future) Google achieved world domination and it’s “still a damn fine search engine”. Although Google has not taken over the world just yet, it’s certainly infiltrated nearly every aspect of our lives and is one of the best search engines.
127 HOURS….IN A VENDING MACHINE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1993
Came true: 2010
During a 1993 episode, Homer Simpson was persistent in getting his hands on a soda can in a vending machine. Simpson realized he didn’t have any spare change, so he decided to stick his hand into the machine. Unfortunately, his arm got stuck in the machine and he was told that he would have to cut off his arm. 17 years later, James Franco faced (almost) the same scenario when his arm got stuck between a huge boulder for 127 hours. There is definitely a resemblance!
3D PRINTING
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2005
Came true: 2012
During a 2005 episode, the Simpsons family traveled to the future again. This time, Bart and Lisa were heading off to prom and Marge snapped a picture of her children. After the polaroid picture was taken, it turned into a cake. Today, this isn’t as surprising because 3D printed food is really a thing!
LEFTIES FOR THE WIN
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1991
Came true: 2009
Ned Flanders decided to open a store just for left-handed individuals, and as much as he hoped it would succeed, he ended up facing major financial hardships. Back then, having a store just for left-handed people sounded ridiculous, but in 2009 “Lefty’s” opened, a store focused on, well, lefties. They now have stores all around the United States.
SQUIRREL ON THE LOOSE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1997
Came true: 2018
During a trip to the mountains, Mr. Burns and Homer cheated their way to the cabin at the top. But, while they rested in their comfortable surroundings, an avalanche buried their entire cabin in the snow. While they tried to find a way out, they ended up rocketing down the mountain and caught sight of a squirrel that ran by their flying cabin. Viewers were quick to find a resemblance between the squirrel that ran past the cabin and the famous Winter Olympics squirrel.
SUGAR TRUCK STEALING
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1994
Came true: 2009
During a 1994 episode, Homer decided to steal hundreds of pounds of sugar he found at the site of a truck accident and then sell it door-to-door. A second mistake Simpson made was keeping the pile of sugar in his backyard. Unfortunately, the sugar quickly attracted bees, and then due to the rain, the sugar began to dissolve. As random as it sounds, a similar scenario happened 15 years later. Two individuals in India were caught stealing a sugar truck!
PET PHOTOGRAPHERS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2011
Came true: not yet
The Simpsons took us back into the future! The growing family got together for Thanksgiving and took their annual Christmas card family photo. But, unlike the years before, the family pets helped out by actually snapping the picture! Although this sounds like a genius idea, it has yet to be discovered. For now, selfies are still the way to go.
BEEF-FLAVORED CHICKEN
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2009
Lisa Simpson decided to turn into a vegetarian after meeting an adorable baby lamb. While visiting a distribution center, she came face-to-face with an advertisement for “meat-flavored chicken”. Funny right? Well, in attempts to look “healthier”, KFC released grilled chicken buckets that were flavored with meat, yes, meat-flavored chicken.
HAIR HORRORS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: 2018
During a series of flashbacks, The Simpsons revealed what caused Homer Simpson’s gradual hair loss. Apparently, his initial reaction to Marge’s pregnancies was to panic and pull out his hair. Their third child, Maggie, was his (and his hairs) final straw, which made the father completely bald. The Simpsons fans pointed out a correlation between Homer’s receding hairline and Prince William’s gradual hair loss and linked it to Kate Middleton’s three pregnancies.
THE ORIGIN OF GUITAR HERO
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2002
Came true: 2005
During How I Spent My Strummer Vacation, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from “The Rolling Stones” were seen giving Homer Simpson a jacket with “Guitar Hero” written on the back. Fast forward three years, “Guitar Hero” made its premiere and featured specifically “The Rolling Stones”.
ALL-YOU-CAN-(NOT)-EAT
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1992
Came true: 2012
During a 1992 episode, Homer saw an advertisement on TV for an all-you-can-eat seafood restaurant called Frying Dutchman. Homer goes and eats until closing, but then gets kicked out. He ended up wanting to sue the restaurant for false advertising. Funny enough, in 2012, Bill Wisth went to a restaurant in Wisconsin called Chuck’s Place, and, after a few trips to the buffet, the restaurant claimed they ran out of food. Wisth refused to pay and planned on picketing Chuck’s Place.
WORLD CUP (ALMOST) FINAL
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1997
Came true: almost in 2018
During a 1997 episode titled The Cartridge Family, the Simpson family gathered around the TV and watched a commercial for an upcoming soccer match between Mexico and Portugal. Fast forward to the 2018 World Cup, Portugal was on the road to face Mexico in a final showdown. People were even willing to bet all their money on this final match because The Simpsons predicted it. But, Mexico lost to Sweden and this meant that the only time Mexico could face Portugal would have been at the semi-finals, and not the finals.
ISOTOPES ALBUQUERQUE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2001
Came true: 2002
During Hungry, Hungry Homer, Homer went on a hunger strike in order to prevent the local baseball league, the Springfield Isotopes, from moving to Albuquerque. It didn’t seem like anything significant until, in 2002, Calgary’s minor league, the Calgary Cannons, announced their move to Albuquerque.
HARAMBE AND BART
Gracie Films
Predicted: 2006
Came true: 2016
In a 2006 episode, Homer took Bart and Lisa to the animal sanctuary and a chimpanzee pulled Bart through the cage bars. Bart offered the Harambe look-alike ice cream and the chimpanzee returned the favor by ‘adopting’ Bart. Bart was rescued and the chimpanzee was reunited with her little chimp. Ten years later, the same type of scenario happened when a child entered Harambe the gorilla’s cage.
BREAKING BAD
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1997
Came true: 2008
Breaking Bad fans might want to re-watch Homer vs. The Eighteenth Amendment because there was clearly a resemblance to the famous TV show. Here are just a few similarities: Homer found himself in the midst of wrongful activities and Marge tried to convince her husband to quit the business. Sounds pretty similar to Breaking Bad’s plotline, right?
VIRUS OUT OF ASIA
Screenshot: Gracie Films
Predicted: 1993
Came true: 2020
Soon after the appearance of COVID-19 in China, The Simpsons fans pointed out that the yellow family did it again and predicted a virus that would come out of Asia. During the episode, Marge Chained, a Japanese worker from the city of Osaka coughs in front of a box addressed to Homer Simpson. After 6-8 weeks, the box reaches Homer and, when he opens the box, he inhales a green cloud which causes him to get a rare disease.
GONE FISHING
Gracie Films
Prediction: 1990
Came true: 2011
Everyone remembers “Blinky”, the three-eyed fish, which was mutated by nuclear runoff waste. The episode even won the Environmental Media Award! Well 20 years later, an Argentine fisherman caught a wolf fish in a reservoir beside a nuclear plant. The fisherman was shocked to discover that the fish had three eyes, bringing Blinky back into the limelight. j
HOVER CARS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1992
Came true: 2017
The Simpsons gave us a glimpse at what the world will look like in 40 years, specifically in the year 2032. As Homer and Bart were walking to the cinema, a Star Trek-style hovercar passed by them. In 1992, this seemed impossible, but flying car prototypes have already been unveiled and are backed up by Larry Page, Google’s co-founder….and it’s only 2018.
TIGER ATTACK
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1993
Came true: 2003
During an episode of The Simpsons, Mr. Burns opens up a casino and invites German magicians, Gunter and Ernst, to come and perform. During the performance, their own tiger suddenly comes after them. Ten years later, during Siegfried and Roy’s long-running Las Vegas circus act, their white Bengal tiger surprisingly attacks them on stage.
BIG BEN GOING DIGITAL
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1995
Came true: not yet
When grown-up Lisa flew to London to meet her in-laws, we got to see London ‘in the future’. There were a couple of concepts that stood out, but the most obvious was a digital clock on Big Ben! Although there is a chance that this might still happen, for now, Big Ben still has an analog clock.
WHACK THE SNAKE
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1993
Came true: 2013
In 1993, The Simpsons introduced “Whacking Day”, a day where residents ‘whack’ snakes around Springfield. This seemed completely unrealistic up until Florida introduced the “Python Challenge” in 2013. The wildlife officials asked residents to whack as many pythons as they could find.
ARNOLD PALMER-FILLED SUPER SOAKERS
Gracie Films
Predicted: September 25, 2016
Came true: September 25, 2016
Although this isn’t a prediction, it is still eery timing. Arnold Palmer, the golfer, is known for the iced tea and lemonade mix he popularized. During the season 28 premiere, Homer told Marge that he was going to spray his friend with super soakers filled with “Arnold Palmers”. The producers of The Simpsons were surprised to find out that Arnold Palmer passed away the same day the episode aired.
MODEST MICHELANGELO
Screenshot: Gracie Films
Predicted: 1990
Came true: 2016
During Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, a copy of David, Michelangelo’s famous statue, was brought to Springfield. But, some of the residents disapproved of his lack of clothing and protested against the statue. Funny enough, in 2016, a copy of David was brought to Saint Petersburg, Russia and protesters wanted to clothe the statue.
CURIOUS GEORGE AND THE EBOLA VIRUS
Gracie Films
Predicted: 1997
Came true: 2014
Marge offers to read Bart, who is feeling down, a book, which happens to be titled “Curious George and the Ebola Virus”. In 2014, when there was a major Ebola outbreak in the US, viewers were immediately shocked by The Simpsons predictive tendencies.