The Simpsons has entertained audiences for decades and astounded them with its uncanny ability to predict future events. One of the most startling instances came from the 17th episode of the 11th season, “Bart to the Future,” aired in 2000. This episode features a future where Bart Simpson’s sister, Lisa, becomes President of the United States, succeeding an entrepreneur-turned-politician strikingly similar to Donald Trump. At the time, Trump had just made a brief foray into presidential politics during the Reform Party primaries. He would not seriously re-enter the political scene until 2016, when he won the presidency.
Was this simply a humorous guess by the writers, or did it reflect a deeper insight into American political trajectories? This episode has since become a focal point for discussions on predictive media.
‘The Simpsons’ predictions
Presidential attire and prophecy
Adding to the layers of prophecy, the attire of President Lisa in the show closely resembles what Vice President Kamala Harris wore at her inauguration in 2021. The similarity in their outfits — right down to the purple suit and pearls — has sparked conversations about the role of media in shaping, or merely anticipating, political realities.
Moreover, just one month before the 2016 election, The Simpsons aired an episode where a campaign badge featured Ivanka Trump’s name alongside the year 2028. This badge has fueled speculation about Ivanka’s potential political ambitions, suggesting she might follow in her father’s footsteps. Whether this will come to pass remains to be seen, but The Simpsons has certainly provided plenty of fodder for political speculation.
The Disney-Fox acquisition: A predictive masterstroke
Another prophecy that has left fans and critics alike in awe involved Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. A brief scene from a 1998 episode displayed the 20th Century Fox logo with the addition “A Subsidiary of Walt Disney Company.” At that time, such a corporate takeover seemed implausible as Rupert Murdoch was firmly at the helm. Yet, in March 2019, Disney completed its acquisition of 20th Century Fox for US$71.3 billion, precisely as the episode had hinted 21 years earlier. This acquisition shook the foundations of the entertainment industry and underscored The Simpsons‘ reputation for prophetic accuracy.
Forecasting a pandemic
Perhaps no prediction has been as widely discussed as the one involving a global pandemic. In “Marge in Chains,” an episode from the fourth season aired in 1993, the storyline revolves around the “Osaka Flu” reaching Springfield via infected juicers ordered from Japan. The eerie parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic, which similarly started in Asia and rapidly spread globally, have not gone unnoticed. This episode has often been cited as a prescient warning about the dangers of global interconnectedness and viral outbreaks.
The legacy of prophetic predictions
As viewers continue to unearth past episodes that resonate with current events, the legacy of The Simpsons as a prophetic mirror to society grows stronger. With over 30 specific instances where the show has seemingly predicted the future, it invites us to reflect on the power of media to depict and possibly foresee critical cultural shifts. From technological innovations to global health crises, The Simpsons remains a touchstone for those intrigued by the intersections of entertainment, society, and prophecy.
As we delve deeper into the uncanny predictions of The Simpsons, it’s clear that the show does more than entertain — it offers a window into potential futures that are both humorous and profoundly insightful.
Translated by Katy Liu
