The Simpsons' shocking predictions that came true – What’s next in 2025?
PTC Web Desk: For over 30 years, The Simpsons has been a household name in entertainment, delighting audiences with its witty humour and zany characters. But beyond the laughs, fans have long been intrigued by something much stranger — the show’s uncanny ability to predict real-life events. Whether by coincidence, satire, or sheer foresight, the animated sitcom has seemingly foreseen major global moments years before they happened.
Here’s a look at some of the most mind-blowing predictions made by The Simpsons — many of which eventually became real headlines.
Trump becomes president — From joke to reality
In a 2000 episode, The Simpsons jokingly portrayed Lisa Simpson becoming US President, taking over after "President Trump." What was meant to be a far-fetched gag turned eerily accurate when Donald Trump won the 2016 election. And with Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign announcement, fans once again pointed to the show's unsettling accuracy.
A mysterious virus… and murder hornets?
Back in 1993, an episode featured the fictional “Osaka Flu” spreading through Springfield, brought in via imported goods. As panic set in, residents accidentally released a swarm of “killer bees.” Fast forward to 2020: the Covid-19 pandemic hit, followed closely by real news of giant "murder hornets" being spotted in the United States.
Disney buys Fox
In 1998, a quick gag showed a sign outside a studio that read: “20th Century Fox – A Division of Walt Disney Co.” Nearly two decades later, this fictional joke turned into a billion-dollar reality when Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019.
Lady Gaga’s super bowl entrance predicted
In 2012, the show featured Lady Gaga flying above a stadium crowd, suspended by cables. Fans were stunned when, five years later, she made a similar dramatic entrance during her real-life Super Bowl halftime performance in 2017.
Submarine catastrophe foreseen?
A 2006 episode saw Homer trapped in a submarine while exploring a shipwreck — an eerie parallel to the 2023 OceanGate Titan disaster, where a submersible imploded while visiting the Titanic wreckage, claiming five lives. One Simpsons writer later revealed he had taken a similar dive and experienced technical issues, adding to the coincidence.
Magician mauled by tiger
In 1993, the show portrayed a magician being attacked by his own tiger — clearly inspired by Siegfried & Roy. A decade later, in 2003, this horrifying moment came true when Roy Horn was mauled by his white tiger during a Las Vegas show, leaving him critically injured.
Nobel Prize winner predicted
A 2010 episode showed Milhouse betting on Finnish economist Bengt Holmström to win a Nobel Prize. Surprisingly, Holmström was awarded the real Nobel Prize in Economics just six years later, in 2016.
Beatles fan mail that came full circle
In 1991, Marge sent a painting to Ringo Starr and received a reply years later. Fast forward to 2024: Paul McCartney responded to a video message sent by a fan nearly 60 years earlier, even inviting her to a photo exhibition — a heartwarming real-life echo of the show’s storyline.
Is it luck, sharp satire, or brilliant storytelling? No one knows for sure. But The Simpsons continues to shock and amaze fans with its long list of eerily accurate predictions. Now, as 2025 unfolds, viewers are keeping a close eye on the show — waiting to see what it might predict next.
- With inputs from agencies
