Quick Take
- Media like television and movies have accurately predicted future events on several occasions.
- “The Truman Show” predicted the rise of reality television as a dominant entertainment format.
- “Minority Report” featured technology seen today, including voice-operated homes.
Media has a mysterious way of functioning as an accidental crystal ball, reflecting the hopes, fears, and curiosities of the era in which it was created. While science fiction often gets credit for accurately foreseeing technological breakthroughs, savvy predictions have come from all types of genres. These include sharp-edged comedies, disturbing horror films, or intense dramas. Through writer imagination and seemingly made-up stories, these shows and movies ended up featuring scenes and events that later proved more than fiction.
This list of movies and shows highlights how foresight isn’t limited to one genre. From dark humor that anticipated cultural oddities to thrillers that depicted surveillance anxieties, each title managed to resemble a future real-world scenario. Together, they show that accidental predictions can be hidden inside jokes, jump scares, or character-driven plots.
“The Simpsons” (1989 to Current)
“The Simpsons” is notoriously known for predicting the future with their episodes that later proved eerily familiar. This show has nailed predictions so many times, in fact, that there is even a Wikipedia page dedicated to all the moments in “The Simpsons” that came true. Some examples include the Donald Trump presidency, Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox, the Ebola virus, and a fourth “Matrix” movie.
“Network” (1976)
“Network” was a unique and satirical comedy film released in 1976. The movie poked fun at television networks and all the crazy strategies they used to increase ratings. While the movie doesn’t resemble any exact scenario, it accurately foresaw the future of news evolving into sensationalized programs more concerned with viewership than the truth.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
“2001: A Space Odyssey” depicted several pieces of technology that are used today, which is impressive considering the movie was released in the ’60s. For instance, the characters used tablet-style, flat screen devises and communicated via video call.
“The Truman Show” (1998)
Thankfully, we don’t have TV networks or billionaires buying babies and staging a show based on their lives. While no one is forced to live their life on screen without their knowledge, “The Truman Show” still predicted the rise of reality television as a dominant entertainment format, where real people’s lives are packaged, edited, and broadcast for mass consumption. And remember, when the film was released in 1998, reality tv was only in its infancy. The movie also featured heavy manipulation by producers, who shaped narratives and engineered conflicts, much like current day reality shows do in order to maximize engagement, at the expense of authenticity.
“Back to the Future Part II” (1989)
With a name like “Back to the Future Part II,” it’s unsurprising that this movie predicted the future. A lot of the technology used in this 1989 film is seen today, like VR headsets. Smart clothing is starting to gain traction too, although it’s nowhere near as sophisticated as Marty McFly’s jacket.
“WALL-E” (2008)
“WALL-E” is a charming, animated film with a lot of heart and unique technology. One particular aspect of this film seems quite foreshadowing in retrospect: the residents of the space city are glued to their devises, unable to engage with the world around them. In one specific moment, a lady looks up from her phone and notices the gigantic pool for the first time. The humans are also so overweight they can barely get out of their chairs. While the obesity epidemic was certainly at play by 2008, it has definitely worsened since that time. For example, before 2013 no U.S. state had adult obesity rates above 35%, but by 2023 that threshold had been exceeded in 23 states.
“The Matrix” (1999)
Another film on our list that may have predicted the future is “The Matrix.” The rise of AI is prevalent in the film, although in real life it is nowhere near as destructive.
“RoboCop” (1987)
Are you surprised to see “RoboCop” here? Don’t freak out just yet; robotic cops are not terrorizing the streets. Still, some futuristic elements of the film are reflected in our world today, including smart technology and facial recognition.
“Contagion” (2011)
“Contagion” featured an unknown virus spreading at a rapid pace. It is scarily accurate in terms of how people reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic. The human fear and panic depicted was reminiscent of our state of affairs in 2020.
“Children of Men” (2006)
“Children of Men” is frequently cited as a film that predicted the future and continues to do so. In this movie, the world is in a state of chaos and depression. Infertility runs rampant and no children have been born in 18 years. Apart from this, immigrants and refugees are looked upon negatively and treated terribly.
“Her” (2013)
Can you imagine falling in love with a robot? This is the plot of “Her,” released in 2013. With the rise of dating simulation games and AI love interests, people are becoming vulnerable to falling in love with machines.
“Parks and Recreation” (2009 to 2015)
This charming and hilarious series ran for seven seasons. “Parks and Recreation” predicted the future when it featured the Cubs winning the World Series.
“The Last Man on Earth” (2015 to 2018)
“The Last Man on Earth” told the story of an infectious disease spreading throughout the world. Interestingly, it aired in the years directly before the Covid-19 pandemic. In the show, wealthy people hunker down together in expensive bunkers, and people go outside wearing DIY PPE.
“Supernatural” (2005 to 2020)
During an episode of “Supernatural” from season 5, which aired in 2009, Dean goes five years into the future to discover the world is affected by a virus. He is even told to hoard toilet paper!
“Minority Report” (2002)
Interestingly, dystopian films seem to predict the future best. “Minority Report” is no exception. Voice-operated homes are heavily featured in this movie.
“Demolition Man” (1993)
“Demolition Man” is another film set in the future. While the film was released in 1993, it was set in 2032. In the early ’90s, mobile phones were few and far between, and smart phones wouldn’t be a thing for another two decades. Yet in the film, people use handheld devices to video chat. The movie even hints at Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming an elected official!
“The Lone Gunmen” (2001)
How can we not mention “The Lone Gunmen?” This TV show only lasted for a season but has a chillingly familiar pilot. Filmed before 2001, the pilot episode was about an arms manufacturer hijacking a plane and crashing it into the World Trade Center. The same year the show was released, 9/11 happened.
“Knight Rider” (1983 to 1986)
In 1982, TV viewers from across the United States got to first see a show about a crime fighter and his AI supercar sidekick. While we don’t have cars like KITT just yet, self-driving cars are on the roads in multiple cities and growing in popularity. We also can’t forget about Michael Knight and his smart watch.
“Watchmen” (2019)
“Watchmen” was a TV series ahead of its time. It was released before mass protests in the U.S. against the death of George Floyd and yet showed a reality where people wore masks to protect themselves against civil unrest. “Watchmen” was released in 2019 and ran for nine episodes.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy of Universal Pictures.