"Aladdin" is set in the future. Here’s another popular theory for you Aladdin fans. The Genie says he’s been locked in his lamp for 10,000 years, right? He also tells Aladdin his clothes are “so third century.” Which, as many commenters have pointed out, would set the action of the movie in at least 10,300. So that explains all the flying carpets and magic — just future tech made rare in a post-apocalyptic, semi-Arabic world.