For years, countless people have sworn they remember watching a 90s movie where comedian Sinbad played a wish-granting genie. They recall the plot, the scenes, even the VHS tape sitting on rental store shelves—but there’s just one problem.
That movie never existed.
Despite the confidence of thousands who insist they watched a film titled Shazaam, there is zero evidence of such a movie being made. No VHS tapes, no movie posters, no TV listings—nothing.
And yet, the memory of it is so widespread that it has become one of the most baffling cases of the “Mandela Effect” in pop culture history.
Who Is Sinbad, and Why Do People Remember This Movie?
David Adkins, better known by his stage name Sinbad, is a comedian and actor best recognized for his roles in 90s family comedies. His filmography includes hits like Jingle All the Way, Good Burger, and Planes, and he also starred in The Sinbad Show, a short-lived sitcom.
He was a staple of 90s pop culture, often appearing in fun, family-friendly movies with a touch of humor. But one thing he never did was play a genie—despite thousands of people believing otherwise.
The Internet Is Convinced Shazaam Was Real
The discussion about this mysterious, non-existent movie has been raging online for years. Many people describe nearly identical details about Shazaam, even though the movie never actually existed.
A Reddit user once outlined an entire plot, claiming they distinctly remember the movie from their childhood.
“The lamp is rubbed for the first time by two kids—an early teen boy and his younger sister, who looks around 5 years old. They’re at home, in the living room, by the fireplace while their single dad is out running an errand.”
“The boy rubs the lamp, and Sinbad appears, dressed in full genie attire…”
The problem? There is no record of Shazaam ever being made.
But if the movie never existed, why do so many people remember it?
The Mandela Effect: A False Memory That Fooled Thousands
This bizarre phenomenon is a classic example of the Mandela Effect, a psychological occurrence where large groups of people share the same false memory.
The term comes from people falsely remembering that Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980s, even though he actually passed away in 2013. This mass misremembering has since been linked to numerous pop culture myths.
Psychologists believe that our brains often fill in gaps in memory with assumptions, cultural influences, and similar experiences, which may explain why Shazaam feels so real to so many.
Why Do People Think Sinbad Played a Genie?
There are several theories as to why so many people have convinced themselves that Sinbad starred in a genie movie:
- Confusion with Kazaam
The most widely accepted explanation is that people are actually misremembering the 1996 movie Kazaam, which starred NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal as a magical genie.Since both Sinbad and Shaq were popular figures in the 90s, people may have fused the two together, creating a completely false memory of Sinbad playing the role instead. - The Name “Sinbad” Sparks Genie Imagery
The name Sinbad is famously associated with Sinbad the Sailor, a legendary figure from Middle Eastern folklore known for his adventures—many of which involved magical creatures, including genies.This could have subconsciously influenced people’s memories, leading them to link Sinbad with a genie role he never actually played. - Sinbad’s Hosting Gig for a Sinbad Movie
In 1994, Sinbad hosted a special screening of Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, a 1977 adventure movie. Some believe that this event, combined with his name, could have sparked false memories of him playing a genie. - Fake “Evidence” That Fooled People
Over the years, hoaxes and doctored images have further fueled the belief in Shazaam.- A Photoshopped image of Sinbad in a genie outfit has circulated online, leading many to believe it was a promotional image from the “lost movie.”
- In 2017, CollegeHumor released a fake “lost footage” video of Shazaam as an April Fool’s prank, tricking even more people into thinking the movie was real.
- A Photoshopped image of Sinbad in a genie outfit has circulated online, leading many to believe it was a promotional image from the “lost movie.”
Sinbad Himself Weighs In
Even Sinbad has addressed the rumors multiple times, making it clear that Shazaam was never a real movie.
At one point, he jokingly tweeted:
“Have you ever been so famous that people created a movie you never made…?”
Later, he filmed a sarcastic video, pretending to “apologize” for Shazaam‘s disappearance, playing into the joke. But even with his confirmation, many still refuse to believe the movie never existed.
A Pop Culture Mystery That Won’t Die
Even with all the logical explanations, the Shazaam mystery continues to baffle people. Some are so convinced of their memories that they believe the movie was “erased from history”, with wild theories suggesting it was part of a secret government cover-up or an alternate universe crossover.
While science and logic say the movie never existed, the fact that so many people “remember” it in exact detail proves just how powerful the human brain—and its ability to misremember—is.
Whether Shazaam is just a case of collective false memory, or something more mysterious, one thing is certain: it’s one of the strangest pop culture myths of all time.