'Idiocracy' Predicted All of This

Mike Judge's 2006 film *Idiocracy* eerily predicted current societal problems including corporate corruption of public institutions, environmental collapse, scientific expertise being undermined, and the collapse of meaningful distinctions between news, entertainment, and politics. The movie, which depicts a future where genetic drift makes the population increasingly unintelligent and corporations prioritize profits over public welfare, has become uncomfortably prescient two decades after its release. Despite initial poor reception and limited theatrical distribution, the film's satirical critique of institutional greed and social disintegration now resonates with uncomfortable accuracy in 2026.