self-deprecating memes

2001's Donnie Darko, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, has been making a bit of a comeback on the internet this year. We're not sure if it's due to millennial nostalgia/escapism or because the psychological thriller kind of reflects the puzzling insanity of 2020. In the last couple months, one format in particular has been popping up all over Instagram and Reddit. It's from a scene in which Donnie Darko (Gyllenhaal) tells his psychiatrist, Dr. Thurman, about a new friend he's made. Thurman asks if the friend is real or imaginary, and Donnie confirms that the friend does not actually exist. 

It's a sad moment, and it's no wonder that the memes it's inspired are pretty self-deprecating and depressing. They mostly riff on how difficult it is to make a real connection in this world - but some of them focus on how futile it is to try to make it as a musician. Others are just straight up shitposts about poopoo or peepee. This gallery boasts all of the above, and more. At the end of the day, these memes just make us yearn to go out into the real world and make friends like we used to. Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later.

If you're in the "Life's a bitch and then you die" camp, you're probably going to enjoy this gallery of memes. They're for the people who lean into their pessimism, and perhaps have a habit of calling it "realism." For the people who don't have the energy to pretend that everything's okay. For the people who accept the pain and use dark humor to cope. And most of all, these nuggets of moroseness are for the people who can't handle another wholesome or cutesy memes. 

If you're miserable and you know it, look at memes. If you're miserable and you know it, look at memes. If you're miserable and you know it, and you really can't be bothered to show it, if you're miserable and you know it, look at memes. The more depressing and self-deprecating the better.

As brutal as the lockdowns and quarantine have felt, we like to look for silver linings. For many of us, this means more excuses to escape reality via television and movies. Action films are high up on our list of escapist genres. There's something weirdly therapeutic about watching a character kick major ass. Instagram meme creators such as @snackytuna and @bread_loafington take the heroes (think Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T) of testosterone-filled movies and make them the subjects of some seriously relatable and self-deprecating memes. While the image macros don't pass the Bechdel test, they're still extremely entertaining. If you like what you see, give these accounts a follow on Instagram. We think they deserve it.

We come bearing gifts, and we come with a message. The message? Don't let boredom take hold of your poor, poor brain. The gifts? A crap ton of memes, tweets, and Tumblr posts that will aid you in the long-running battle against tedium. Use these tools, and use them well. 

Some people turn to wholesome memes or cute pictures of animals when they're depressed. Others try to unplug altogether. We here at Memebase sometimes prefer the "lean in" approach, instead choosing to scroll through memes that depict the shitty feelings we have perfectly. Sometimes you have to wallow a little to feel better.

These memes are for everyone who is miserable and not afraid to show it. For the downtrodden and depressed, the people who are somehow keeping it together for people other than themselves. The people who suffer through the trying routines and constant agony of existence. We see you. And you're not alone. These memes serve as proof.

It seems like a decade ago that we were lamenting the Sonic movie's terrible animation. Even the movie's February 14 release seems like it happened in another lifetime. But the film (which actually got solid reviews) has more to offer than 100 minutes of boredom-busting. It's inspired more than a few excellent dank memes, and the latest format features Jim Carrey as Sonic's nemesis, Robotnik. The meme remixes the classic Daily Struggle format by adding a panel of Robotnik eagerly selecting the negative red button. It's being used to mock everyone from gullible fake-news spreading aunts to gamers, and it's quickly becoming one of the more popular formats on Reddit. We've put together a healthy handful of our favorite examples, but you can read more about the evil goodness on Know Your Meme. Happy scrolling!

While some people may be touting the benefits of positivity during this global crisis, we're more inclined to suggest you lean into the darkness. Going through it means actually having to feel -  that means you should be feeling the bad stuff just as much as the good stuff. And after all this is over, hopefully we'll laugh about the misery. Just like we chuckled at these dark yet relatable memes.

If one thing is true about humans, it's that they hate to feel alone. And lucky for everyone reading this, these incredibly relatable memes will abolish that feeling, even if you're stuck in lockdown all by your lonesome. From self-deprecating humor to clever observations, this gallery is sure to make you feel seen. Maybe even a little too seen...

This gallery of memes has got it all: Lord of the Rings memes, self-deprecation, and even some Dungeons & Dragons shitposts in case you wanna get real nerdy. But the best thing about this batch of goodies is its convenience. Quality memes all in one place. You're welcome.

If you're craving memes, we've got the amusement you seek. This batch of random humor has it all: Wholesome memes for when you're depressed, stupid jokes, and self-deprecating memes that most people can relate to. If variety is the spice of life, consider this dump your hot sauce.

Well, we've got to add this one to the list of meme mashups that seriously surprised us but work extremely well. The photo used for the meme is from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, a scene during which Mace Windu confronts Emperor Palpatine. In this meme, however, Palpatine is replaced by a very unthreatening image of Wallace from the Wallace and Gromit series of movies. The juxtaposition is hilariously absurd, perfect for self-deprecating memes. We've put our favorites in this gallery, but you can read more about this meme over at Know Your Meme.

Calling all cynics! If you think that life simply sucks and then you die, this gallery is for you. From self-deprecating memes, to soul-suckingly dark tweets, we've got the miserable content that you crave. Just don't let it drag you down too far.  While there's nothing inherently wrong with leaning into the fact that existence can be shitty, it's important to remember that it often gets better. 

Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho made history on Sunday when his film Parasite won both the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language film. The film has been hailed as satirical genius - a deft and stunning criticism of capitalism. While the irony of the Parasite winning these accolades in a room of insanely wealthy people is entertaining, the memes have been even more thrilling. The director was photographed making his statues kiss after his big wins, and the image very quickly morphed into the evening's best meme. Here are some of our favorites.

If you're default humor is self-deprecating, these memes are for you. They're depressing, they're funny, and they're relatable as hell. Just promise us one thing: try not to be so down all the time. It's okay to be nice to ones self every now and then!