Why It Ranks
Idiocracy was sabotaged by its own studio and became the most referenced comedy of the political era. Mike Judge predicted everything. The film's cult status grows every election cycle. 'Brawndo — it's got electrolytes' is the most prescient joke in comedy history.
The Film
Idiocracy is the most prophetic comedy ever made. Mike Judge's satire about an average man who wakes up 500 years in a future where humanity has devolved into stupidity was buried by Fox with a 130-theater release and zero marketing. It grossed $500,000 and then became a cultural touchstone because every year since 2006, reality has moved closer to Judge's dystopia. Costco law degrees, Gatorade on crops, a pro-wrestler president — it stopped being satire and started being journalism.
Fun Facts
Fox released the film in only 130 theaters with no marketing — Mike Judge believes the studio buried it because corporate sponsors were offended.
The film's depiction of a wrestler becoming president predated real political developments by a decade.
'Brawndo' energy drink was later manufactured as a real product — it sold out immediately.
Judge originally wanted the future to be set 1,000 years ahead but reduced it to 500 because test audiences found 1,000 too unbelievable.
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