The Simpsons isn’t the only piece of media that has accurately predicted the future. These six films may have been released years ago, but they are still as relevant today as they were when they were first released.

The Joneses [2009] (dir. Derrick Borte)

Demi Moore and David Duchovny play a couple of undercover marketers who move into an affluent suburban neighborhood to influence their neighbors into buying various consumer goods such as microwaveable foods, golf clubs, and high-end cars. In my opinion, this film accurately predicted the rise of the “mom-fluencer”. People who’s entire careers and online platforms are dedicated to advertising goods to everyone they know in their lives and making money through commissions. The only difference between this film and our current day reality is the discretion. In 2026, these characters wouldn’t be doing undisclosed ads. They would be making video after video on TikTok, telling people to click the link in the bio so they could make commission off of every product they sell on their Amazon storefront.

Being There [1979] (dir. Hal Ashby)

In Being There, Chance, a gardener who only knows the world through television, somehow stumbles his way into being a major player in the US political and economic landscape. Because he’s such an unknown figure, people project their agendas and beliefs onto this man, making him a much more important person than he actually is. He is seen as a “savior” of sorts, and is even considered a potential presidential candidate towards the end of the film. Chance’s rise to power will remind a lot of people of a certain orange figure in our current political landscape.

Network [1976] (dir. Sidney Lumet)

After being informed that he only has two more weeks on the air due to low ratings, Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch) announces that he will be killing himself during the following week’s broadcast. Network touches upon many themes that are still relevant today. The shift of news from a public service to an entertainment channel, the commodification of outrage into entertainment for the masses, the dehumanization of struggling individuals by the media, and capitalism’s impact on modern society and the economy. The movie was meant to be a satire, but unfortunately for us, it has become a reality.

Dr. Strangelove [1964] (dir. Stanley Kubrick)

Every time I see some news about how AI could cause a major catastrophe in the next few years, or how we might be going to war again soon, I think about this film. A group of incompetent individuals with too much power making stupid decisions that end up negatively affecting the world. Unfortunately a tale as old as time.

The Idiots [1998] (dir. Lars Von Trier)

A group of adults decide to challenge society-at-large by seeking their “inner idiot” and pretending to be mentally disabled in public. While I’m not a fan of the execution of the film, I do believe that thematically, this film predicted the idiocy and pseudo-intellectualism of online personalities. The characters in The Idiots believe they are intelligent individuals who aren’t being respected properly because their creativity is outside of what the “norm” is, but they also haven’t achieved anything of note to showcase their perceived intelligence. If these characters existed in the modern era, I feel that they would’ve probably made some appearances in a Jubilee debate video, or become influencers that are known for constantly posting inflammatory, controversial videos.

Her [2013] (dir. Spike Jonze)

“Man developing a relationship with AI” was a sci-fi film idea in 2013. In 2026, it’s a reality. It’s sad how many people rely on AI to make decisions for them, and how many people are actually in relationships with AI chatbots (look it up, it’s fascinating), but I also think it showcases how lonely people are, something Her highlighted more than a decade ago.