The "COVID-19 Pandemic" (1993)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "COVID-19 Pandemic" (1993)

• What happened: In the episode "Marge in Chains" (1993), there is a storyline where a virus called the "Osaka Flu" starts spreading rapidly in Springfield, causing widespread panic, quarantine measures, and even shortages of goods. People wear masks, and the town is put under lockdown.
• Reality: In 2020, the world experienced the COVID-19 pandemic, which similarly involved a rapid global spread of a contagious virus, mask mandates, quarantines, social distancing, and shortages of essential goods. The similarities between the fictional "Osaka Flu" and the real COVID-19 pandemic are unsettling, as the Simpsons predicted not just a viral outbreak but the societal effects that would follow.