The "End of Traditional Movie Theaters" (Episode: "Homer the Movie", 1996)

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 "End of Traditional Movie Theaters" (Episode: "Homer the Movie", 1996)

• What happened: The show makes light of the future of movie theaters and how they might eventually be replaced or altered.
• Reality: In the 2010s, the movie theater industry began to face serious challenges, with the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ leading to a decline in theater attendance. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the shift to digital-first movie releases.