In the age of the Internet, movies that become popular will often generate funny memes related to them. But sometimes, the movie the meme is based on wasn’t initially popular and either gained a cult following over time or became obscure.
Some memes are even more popular than the movie itself, which people use without entirely understanding the context of the clip that’s used let alone the still image. Thus, it changes the meaning of the scene being referenced and retrospective views of the film-in-question. Listed below are several exemplary memes that have arguably outlived the movie they’re originally from popularity-wise.
I Drink Your Milkshake! Meme (There Will Be Blood)
While There Will Be Blood is considered a modern classic, its popularity online is arguably attributed to the memes it has generated. This includes the popular I Drink Your Milkshake meme, which is taken from the last scene of the movie.
When Daniel Plainview is explaining to Eli Bandy that he’s been draining oil around the land that Eli’s family owns by using milkshakes as a metaphor, the line comes across as darkly comical.
“First Time?” Meme (The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs)
Compared to most anthology movies, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs offers several stories that are consistently good. This includes “Near Algodones,” which stars James Franco, whose character tries to rob a bank.
Unfortunately, he gets caught and hung in a public square. Before he dies, he remarks to a fellow criminal, “First time?”. In context, this relates to him being hung before though it became a punchline for the inexperience of certain situations.
The Rock Driving Meme (Race To Witch Mountain)
Before Dwayne Johnson became a popular actor, he was in movies like Race to Witch Mountain, which was the second remake of Escape to Witch Mountain (1975). Following the same plot as the original, it’s about a man driving extraterrestrial kids to the titular destination.
While Race to Witch Mountain got mixed reviews, it lives on through The Rock Driving meme. This turns Dwayne’s reaction to seeing the kids in his car into a punchline.
That Would Be Great Meme (Office Space)
Based on the Milton cartoons that aired in the mid-1990s, Office Space was a black comedy that dealt with disgruntled workers and their exploitative bosses. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t fare well at the box office in spite of the positive reviews.
Though Office Space eventually became a cult hit, its legacy is most visible online through the various memes it’s generated. Especially this one, which uses the same phrasing as one of the characters.
Hitler Reacts Meme (Downfall) (2004)
Considered to be one of the most infamous historical figures, Adolf Hitler has been the subject of many films, both serious and comical. One such film was Downfall, a 2004 German war drama about the Battle of Berlin and Hitler’s final days.
Initially controversial upon release, Downfall received lots of critical acclaim and did financially well. But what stuck with most people was Hitler’s intense reaction to his generals’ incompetence, which became a popular meme.
You Don’t Say? Meme (Vampire’s Kiss)
Every now and then, particular lines from movies get misquoted. This is due to the Mandela Effect, where something is strongly remembered that isn’t entirely true.
An example of this can be found in Vampire’s Kiss, where Nicholas Cage plays a rich businessman who thinks he’s become a vampire. Particularly a scene where Cage’s character intimidates a lower worker, which became a meme with the tagline “You Don’t Say?” even though he never says that.
Garbage Day Meme (Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2)
Despite the controversial release of the Christmas-themed slasher Silent Night, Deadly Night, a sequel was made titled Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2. This one was about the grown-up younger brother of the killer from the first movie, who also goes on a murderous rampage.
One scene most people remember is when the brother yells, “Garbage Day!” to a random civilian taking out his trash before shooting him. Thus, a meme was born.
Exploding Head Meme (Scanners)
Sometimes, a special effect is so good that it’s remembered more than the movie it’s from. A classic example is the exploding head scene from Scanners, which turned into an infamous reaction meme.
A cult sci-fi movie, Scanners is about people with psychic abilities called ‘Scanners’ who are being experimented on by a private military company. But when a Scanner goes rogue and starts an underground movement, another is hired to take him down.
“Oh, Hi Mark” Meme (The Room)
Among the ‘so bad it’s good’ movies out there, The Room has gotten more mainstream attention thanks to The Disaster Artist movie. In addition, there are The Room-based memes that use this template.
Context-wise, it’s the last three words uttered by Tommy Wiseau’s character Johnny where he’s ranting to himself before seeing his best friend Mark. Though the delivery is so awkward yet funny that it’s no wonder this scene became a meme.
“Jesus, Man!” Meme (Second Glance)
Before David A.R. White became a co-founder of Pure Flix, he did some minor acting roles with one of his first being Second Glance. In it, David plays a Christian teenager named Daniel, who feels like his beliefs are restrictive.
When his prayers are answered, he finds himself in an alternate universe where he never became a Christian. But most people are familiar with the meme-worthy ending where Daniel says, “Jesus, Man!”.