Classic Meme History

The complete guide to internet meme origins — from 1997 Pikachu screenshots to 2020s viral formats.

Pre-2015 Classics

Grumpy Cat

Tardar Sauce, the perpetually unimpressed feline who became the face of negativity.

Viral: 2012

One Does Not Simply

Boromir's Mordor speech that became the internet's go-to warning about impossible tasks.

Viral: 2011

Ain't Nobody Got Time

Sweet Brown's iconic quote about priorities that took over the internet.

Viral: 2012

This Is Fine Dog

KC Green's comic panel about calmly ignoring obvious catastrophe.

Viral: 2013

2015–2017 Era

Drake Hotline Bling

The two-panel approval/disapproval format from Drake's music video.

Viral: 2015

Blinking White Guy

Drew Scanlon's GIF that became the definitive face of disbelief.

Viral: 2017

Chad vs Virgin

The confident vs insecure comparison format.

Viral: 2017

Galaxy Brain

The expanding brain tiers of increasingly absurd logic.

Viral: 2017

Epic Handshake

Two muscled arms clasping in agreement over unexpected common ground.

Viral: 2017

2018–2020 Era

Distracted Boyfriend

The stock photo that became the universal template for distraction.

Viral: 2017

Surprised Pikachu

Pikachu's shocked face at completely predictable consequences.

Viral: 2018

Gru's Plan

The four-panel plan that works until it obviously doesn't.

Viral: 2018

Change My Mind

The debate table format for stating absurd or unpopular opinions.

Viral: 2018

Woman Yelling at Cat

Two separate viral images combined into the internet's favorite argument format.

Viral: 2019