If you've been on Twitter long enough, there's a good chance that you've run across one of Simpsons Films tweets on your timeline. You know the ones -- they take random screencaps of Simpsons episodes and use them to simultaneously parody and somehow also accurately describe popular movies. It's hard to figure out why The Simpsons can seemingly apply to almost any concept or plot imaginable, so I contacted the person behind Simpsons Films for answers.
"I think the sheer longevity of the show helps; the more varied situations there are, the more likely they'll line up with something else," Simpsons Films said over Twitter DM. They wished to remain anonymous. "That, plus the creativity and artistry of the animation in the earlier years led to some very cinematic moments and direction which doesn't really happen with the modern episodes."
Simpsons Films told me that they make ample use of the magical screencap emporium Frinkiac whenever inspiration strikes, though they have accepted occasional submissions from fellow fans. At just over 400 tweets at the time of this writing, the account has struck gold an impressive amount of time in its yearlong lifespan. I collected some of my favorite tweets below:
Suicide Squad (2016)(dir. David Ayer) pic.twitter.com/pzBchABYYd -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) May 7, 2017
Suicide Squad (2016)(dir. David Ayer) pic.twitter.com/pzBchABYYd
Baby Driver (2017)(dir. Edgar Wright) pic.twitter.com/Zd18gscp6L -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) May 14, 2017
Baby Driver (2017)(dir. Edgar Wright) pic.twitter.com/Zd18gscp6L
It (2017)(dir. Andy Muschietti) pic.twitter.com/BAOWEtHzHs -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) September 9, 2017
It (2017)(dir. Andy Muschietti) pic.twitter.com/BAOWEtHzHs
The Prestige (2006)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/2oTk5ppOJp -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) July 31, 2017
The Prestige (2006)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/2oTk5ppOJp
Rick And Morty (2013 onwards)(dir. various) pic.twitter.com/rfsJtyF1sY -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) April 13, 2017
Rick And Morty (2013 onwards)(dir. various) pic.twitter.com/rfsJtyF1sY
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)(dir. George Lucas) pic.twitter.com/CuLuzQvxe3 -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) August 26, 2017
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith (2005)(dir. George Lucas) pic.twitter.com/CuLuzQvxe3
The Emoji Movie (2017)(dir. Tony Leondis) pic.twitter.com/DWqTjog6ec -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) August 8, 2017
The Emoji Movie (2017)(dir. Tony Leondis) pic.twitter.com/DWqTjog6ec
Game Of Thrones: "Beyond The Wall" (2017)(dir. Alan Taylor) pic.twitter.com/x7MojnzxZ0 -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) September 16, 2017
Game Of Thrones: "Beyond The Wall" (2017)(dir. Alan Taylor) pic.twitter.com/x7MojnzxZ0
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)(dir. various) pic.twitter.com/7528HPuycH -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) July 6, 2017
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)(dir. various) pic.twitter.com/7528HPuycH
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/PEwLwBJWkV -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) June 21, 2017
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/PEwLwBJWkV
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)(dir. Joe Johnston) pic.twitter.com/taMkBQSwjc -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) August 18, 2017
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)(dir. Joe Johnston) pic.twitter.com/taMkBQSwjc
Dunkirk (2017)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/uTad3GTaiJ -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) July 22, 2017
Dunkirk (2017)(dir. Christopher Nolan) pic.twitter.com/uTad3GTaiJ
Toy Story 3 (2010)(dir. Lee Unkrich) pic.twitter.com/2aK319P0ss -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) June 29, 2017
Toy Story 3 (2010)(dir. Lee Unkrich) pic.twitter.com/2aK319P0ss
Logan (2017)(dir. James Mangold) pic.twitter.com/OxtkfdfPXi -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) March 9, 2017
Logan (2017)(dir. James Mangold) pic.twitter.com/OxtkfdfPXi
Get Out (2017)(dir. Jordan Peele) pic.twitter.com/xRGKOxpJDg -- Simpsons Films (@simpsonsfilms) March 18, 2017
Get Out (2017)(dir. Jordan Peele) pic.twitter.com/xRGKOxpJDg