Do you remember back in the 1990s when comedian and actor Sinbad played a magical genie in a movie called Shazaam? Well, no you don't... because it never happened.
Yes, despite so many people on social media claiming to remember the movie, it actually never existed. So, how did this happen? Well, this is something called the "Mandela effect".
Have you ever remembered something so vividly, only to find out it never happened?
Welcome to the world of the Mandela Effect - a phenomenon where collective false memories confuse and confound. And one of the most famous cases? The Sinbad genie movie that never was.
According to Psychology Today, the Mandela Effect is a fascinating quirk of human psychology where large groups of people distinctly remember something differently from how it occurred. In this case, numerous folks on social media are convinced that Sinbad starred as a genie in a '90s film called Shazaam. The problem? That movie was never made.
If you remember Sinbad's genie movie, you're not alone. Credit: John Sciulli / Stringer / Getty
For many, this is more than just a simple mix-up; it's an unforgettable part of their childhood memories. People recall seeing Sinbad in a genie costume, granting wishes, and getting into all sorts of comical adventures. They even remember the movie's VHS cover with Sinbad popping out of a magical lamp. It's all so vivid, so real... except it's not.
And according to these tweets, people are VERY passionate about it:
One person even wrote: "I refuse to believe that there is not a movie out there called Shazaam starring Sinbad as a genie. So all of us just imagined watching the same movie??? No shot."
To add to the confusion, there was indeed a genie-themed movie released in the '90s, but it featured basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, not Sinbad. The film was called Kazaam.
Yet, for those caught in the Mandela Effect's grip, the memories of Sinbad's Shazaam persist.
So, why does this happen? Experts suggest it's a combination of psychological factors, including the power of suggestion and our brains' tendency to create coherent narratives from fragmented information. However, per CNN, cognitive and parapsychological researcher Neil Dagnall said: "With the Mandela Effect, people are often remembering things the way they think they should be rather than they actually are — because we just process things very quickly in everyday life."
In the case of Shazaam, it's possible that Sinbad's memorable '90s persona, combined with the popularity of genie-themed movies during that era, led to the creation of a collective false memory.
What makes this Mandela Effect even more intriguing is Sinbad's playful response to it.
The now-68-year-old has embraced the myth, joking about the nonexistent movie on social media. "Have you noticed no one my age has seen this so called Sinbad Genie movie, only you people who were kids in the 90's. The young mind," he tweeted back in 2016.
"Okay for all you people who think I did a genie movie.. well haven’t done one YET, but I am going to do one so we can close this chapter," he added.
This seemed to be a reference to a skit he eventually appeared in back in 2017 for CollegeHumor titled "The Lost Sinbad Movie." Check it out below:
In fact, recordings and screenshots from this skit have only added to the problem, as people on X are now CONVINCED there is a full movie out there from the 90s.
So, if you see a screenshot from the above video in the comments section (which, you inevitably will), it was filmed in 2017 as a joke.
Another video defiant Shazaam enthusiasts will point to is the following interview Sinbad took part in back in 2018.
In the interview,w Sinbad talks about how those still in possession of a Shazaam VHS are on a hitlist for an "assassin to come to your house"... and if you can't figure out he's clearly being sarcastic in this video, then we cannot help you.
In a world full of mind-bending mysteries, the Sinbad genie movie stands as a testament to the curious quirks of human memory.
Whether you're a true believer in the existence of Shazaam or just fascinated by the Mandela Effect, one thing's for sure: the legend of Sinbad's magical genie will continue to mystify and amuse for years to come.