Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

There's Apparently A Sci-Fi Movie From 1963 Called 'Omicron'—And Here Come The Conspiracies

There's Apparently A Sci-Fi Movie From 1963 Called 'Omicron'—And Here Come The Conspiracies
@WiQReborn/Twitter
Make us preferred on Google

The newest identified variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, has received its name. Omicron is the name of the "o" character in the Greek alphabet, as well as the latest variant of concern first identified in South Africa.

As the word "Omicron" existed in vernacular before the pandemic, several pieces of pop culture contain the word. Perhaps most famously, the planet of King Lrrr from Futurama, Omicron Persei 8.


But there are more pop culture mirrors, such as a 1963 science fiction film simply titled Omicron. Of course, wild stories full of half-truths and new conspiracy theories ensued.

Some, like a fake movie poster that mistitled the film The Omicron Variant have already been debunked.



The film, shot in Italian, tells the story of an alien who takes over a human body to learn about humans so his race may more easily invade planet earth.

There is no mention of a virus or a disease, but that has not stopped the conspiracy theories from popping up. One of the more popular conspiracies has retitled this film as The Omicron Variant rather than simply Omicron, in order to suggest a more direct parallel between the virus and the film.

However, the film is only known as Omicron.




Other conspiracy theorists have found straws to connect story threads, but for the most part the conspiracy is being dismissed rather quickly by any and all sources.

Becky Cheatle—who originally created the altered poster being shared—tweeted:

“Hi. It's been brought to my attention that one of my posters is circulating on Spanish language Twitter as ‘proof’ of a Covid hoax."
"It's just a goof because I thought Omicron Variant sounded like a 70s sci-fi movie. Please do not get sick on account of my dumb joke. Thanks.”


Others shared clips of the movie to dispel the misinformation.

But people persisted with their alternate takes on reality.




As experts have continued to state, the Omicron variant is still under observation and not a whole lot of information is available on what it could mean for the pandemic or vaccines.

But either way, the variant and this particular B-movie from the 1960s remain unrelated.

More from Trending

Jimmy Kimmel; Matthew McConaughey
Scott Kirkland/FXX via Getty Images; Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel Reveals NSFW Way Matthew McConaughey Consoled Him During Emmys—And It Actually Helped

Every awards show has an "In Memoriam" section, and every time it's a tear-jerker.

And at this year's Emmys, even funny man Jimmy Kimmel couldn't keep from crying, following the death of his childhood friend and frequent fixture on his show, Cleto Escobedo III.

Keep Reading Show less
Joanna Wietrzyk
Fred Lee/Getty Images

HYROX World Champion Who Soiled Herself During Event Speaks Out To Apologize After Controversy

On September 12, Joanna Wietrzyk of Australia won in the Pro Women's solo division at HYROX Beijing 2026 and set off a literal sh*tstorm of controversy. Wietrzyk suffered acute gastrointestinal distress, soiling herself, partway through the course, but she chose to continue and finished in first place.

HYROX is a standardized global fitness-racing series that combines eight kilometers of running with eight functional workout stations. Participants run one kilometer, then complete one of the functional workout stations, then repeat this sequence eight times alongside the other competitors in their division.

Keep Reading Show less
David Letterman; Donald Trump
Amy Sussman/WireImage; Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

David Letterman's Resurfaced Warning About The Future Of The Media Under 'Authoritarian' Trump Is Eerily Accurate

A resurfaced clip of former late-night host David Letterman has gone viral for a prescient warning he gave to the media about the perils of being a "suck up" to an "authoritarian regime" like the Trump administration.

Letterman originally made those remarks during an appearance last year at The Atlantic Festival. He criticized the Trump administration and cautioned media outlets while reflecting on the administration's efforts to silence Letterman's fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of Dave Lowe
60 Minutes

Lifelong Texas Republican Goes Viral With Criticism Of Proposed AI Data Center On '60 Minutes'—And Everyone's Saying The Same Thing

Dave Lowe, a resident of Red Oak, Texas, and a "lifelong conservative Republican," went viral for his reaction to a proposed AI data center in his community, giving 60 Minutes reporters a response observers say perfectly sums up conservative thinking.

Data centers—vast, industrial buildings packed with servers, networking hardware, and storage systems—form the physical backbone of modern computing.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of JD Vance at rally in North Carolina
C-SPAN

Vance Dragged After 'Accidentally' Coming Up With Juvenile Nickname For The Far Left In Cringey Speech

Vice President JD Vance was widely mocked online after he misspoke while criticizing the "far left" at a campaign rally for MAGA North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley.

Vance was in the city of Greensboro to encourage voters to vote for one of the MAGA candidates that has been endorsed by the White House. Whatley was previously the chair of the Republican National Committee from 2024 to 2025.

Keep Reading Show less