A TikTok video uploaded by content creator Black Apple identifies a handful of references to September 22 or 23, including the numbers 923 and 239 (as the date would be written in most other parts of the world), across various apocalyptic media. Everything from a “The Big Bang Theory” detail referencing an asteroid strike in the episode “The Septum Deviation” to the number 923 appearing on an end-of-the-world probably counter in “Tomorrowland” makes the list.
While there are over three minutes of examples, it’s just a conspiracy theory, and the video’s comments section is littered with sarcasm. One commenter asked if they should pay their rent this month. Another mused that they’ve lived through a number of apocalypses, including Y2K, the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In times of loss and confusion, we often look to the heavens for guidance — most religions refer to a paradise above and damnation below — so it makes sense that humanity would believe that the end of everything would also start with a sign from the heavens. But why Hollywood became obsessed with the date of September 23 is a bigger mystery.
