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“Retrofuturism”: 103 Predictions From Past Generations That Were Either A Hit Or A Miss (New Pics)
CuriositiesMAY 17, 2026

“Retrofuturism”: 103 Predictions From Past Generations That Were Either A Hit Or A Miss (New Pics)

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The technology that we have today would absolutely blow the minds of anyone who lived over a hundred years ago. The fact that the internet not only exists but that we can access it from phones, watches, and glasses probably would have sounded insane to your great-great-grandparents. 
But as long as humans have been around, they’ve been making predictions about what's to come. And thanks to the internet, we can now look back on some of the most amusing depictions of the future that past generations created. Below, you’ll find some of our favorite posts from the Retrofuturism subreddit. We might not have time travel yet, but for now, we hope you can settle for a trip back in time through this list of prophecies from the past!

#1 Car Manufacturer Tatra Explaining Aerodynamics In A Simple Way For Anyone To Understand

Car Manufacturer Tatra Explaining Aerodynamics In A Simple Way For Anyone To Understand
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46points

#2 Went To The Moma. Original Lithograph For Metropolis

Went To The Moma. Original Lithograph For Metropolis
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38points

#3 I Restored A 1930s Chrome Beehive Lamp And Made A Custom Retro Futurism Theme Mica Shade For It

I Restored A 1930s Chrome Beehive Lamp And Made A Custom Retro Futurism Theme Mica Shade For It
36points

The future is fascinating. It’s mysterious and exciting, and because we can’t know for certain what’s coming, it provides endless possibilities. Even when it looks bleak, you can choose to be optimistic and believe that good things are coming. And we can clearly see from the Retrofuturism subreddit that being fixated on the future is nothing new.

This community has been around since 2009, and it still boasts 33K weekly visitors. According to the page’s “about" section, it’s focused on “futuristic visions of eras past.” The moderators explain that after humanity’s sudden thrust into a technological revolution, people became optimistic about creating a technological utopia. And while we haven’t achieved that just yet, we still love to daydream about the magical future that will (hopefully) be here someday. 

#4 Buckminster Fuller's 1938 Dymaxion

Buckminster Fuller's 1938 Dymaxion
32points

#5 Space Colony . Painting By Rick Guidice

Space Colony . Painting By Rick Guidice
31points

#6 Current New Yorker Cover

Current New Yorker Cover
29points

If you were to imagine your perfect future, what would it be like? Would there be flying cars, or would everyone rely on free, accessible, and efficient public transportation? Would you live in a city full of skyscrapers, or would you prefer one covered in greenery? Would you be interested in taking weekend trips to the moon, or would you rather spend your free time visiting the bottom of the ocean?

Because it hasn’t arrived yet, we can imagine anything we want in the future. But if you’re looking for science-based predictions, the BBC got in touch with some experts to find out what technology they expect us to have in the coming decades.  

#7 Some Stuff My Grandfather Drew In 1948 I Thought You Guys Might Like. The Text On The Bottom One Sais:”jet-Train 1984?”

Some Stuff My Grandfather Drew In 1948 I Thought You Guys Might Like. The Text On The Bottom One Sais:”jet-Train 1984?”
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29points

#8 Cat Looking At Jupiter From A Space Station

Cat Looking At Jupiter From A Space Station
29points

#9 An Epic Paris Of The Future, Illustrated By Moebius, AKA Jean Giraud

An Epic Paris Of The Future, Illustrated By Moebius, AKA Jean Giraud
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26points

According to Professor Steven Bramwell at the London Center for Nanotechnology, we should expect the lines between machines, electronics, and biology to become “significantly blurred” in the next 25 years. This might mean nanotechnology implants to monitor the health of humans or aid communication. Bramwell also says we might have machines at a nanometer scale that can deliver medicine exactly where it needs to go in the body.

#10 1981 Vision Of Suburbia After There's No More Room Left For Suburbs

1981 Vision Of Suburbia After There's No More Room Left For Suburbs
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25points

#11 1963: You'll Be Able To Carry A Phone In Your Pocket In The Future

1963: You'll Be Able To Carry A Phone In Your Pocket In The Future
25points

#12 R.i.p. Douglas Trumbull (1942-2022)

R.i.p. Douglas Trumbull (1942-2022)
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25points

Artificial intelligence has already become extremely pervasive in today’s society, and we shouldn’t expect it to slow down any time soon. But as for the next generation of AI, futurist Tracey Follows believes that it will have a huge impact on the way students learn. Instead of human teachers, Follows predicts AI teachers will give lessons across “virtual and physical realities” that can “adjust in real time.” 

#13 Time, 1968, Race For The Moon Cover Art

Time, 1968, Race For The Moon Cover Art
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24points

#14 My Favorite Syd Mead Painting

My Favorite Syd Mead Painting
24points

#15 Concorde

Concorde
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24points

There are already many driverless vehicles on the streets, but the technology definitely hasn’t been perfected yet. These cars are notorious for driving onto train tracks and getting into accidents. But by 2050, writer Bill Douglass thinks that traffic will be a thing of the past. He explains that, if all cars are autonomous and safe, there’s no reason why they can’t go up to 100 MPH on highways. They’ll also be able to drive closer together, because if one stops, they’ll all react instantly. We won’t have to worry about human error causing accidents.

#16 1939 Duesenberg Coupé Simone Midnight Ghost

1939 Duesenberg Coupé Simone Midnight Ghost
23points

#17 Gepetto By Artist Cedric Peyravernay

Gepetto By Artist Cedric Peyravernay
23points

#18 Robot Dreams, 1988

Robot Dreams, 1988
21points

Some futurists even predict that a “technological singularity” is only a couple of decades away. This is a theoretical scenario in which AI technology becomes so advanced that it surpasses human cognitive abilities and can autonomously enhance itself. “The theory suggests that such advancements could evolve at a pace so rapid that humans would be unable to foresee, mitigate, or halt the process,” IBM explains. These AIs could potentially create innovations that are beyond human comprehension, which could be amazing or terrifying.   

#19 Jakub Różalski

Jakub Różalski
21points

#20 Self-Contained Future 'Jet Ship,' Berkey Acrylic

Self-Contained Future 'Jet Ship,' Berkey Acrylic
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20points
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