2018’s Best Memes

12/6/2018

Here are the best memes of 2018

Kaitlyn McGarvey / Slot Editor

2018 may have had its ups and downs, but it also had memes galore. Here is a list of the top memes of the year, roughly going by what month each one reached peak popularity:

The Tide Pod Challenge

Guys, I have some of the last original Tide Pods. I can’t decide if I should eat them, put them in a time capsule, or attempt to wash away my sins. #TheFlavor pic.twitter.com/O8dKNGyViO

— Killian Wells (@KillianWells) November 28, 2018

In January, all anyone was thinking about was getting a taste of “the forbidden fruit.” The Tide Pod Challenge took the internet (and poison control) by storm when people dared each other to eat the colorful detergent pods. Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Tide, didn’t do itself any favors when it made its new detergent container look like boxed wine.

You so precious when you smile

Just in time for Valentine's Day 2018, “Precious when you smile” blew up. Bazzi’s “Mine” was often paired with romantic Snapchat filters on videos. Everyone from Spongebob to Kim Jong Un had a precious meme dedicated to them.

Savage Patrick

“Yea, omw” pic.twitter.com/5Ptc03wLoD

— Savage Patrick (@ItsSavagePat) March 14, 2018

This meme came from a season one episode of Spongebob Squarepants. Savage Patrick memes are here to celebrate all the mildly crappy things we do.

Mason Ramsey

I love how a meme like yodel kid can make a complete 180 and become a big artist with big crowds. Great job Mason https://t.co/rKkdnbMMcw

— Manuel Spaan (@manuelspaan) September 16, 2018

Also known as “WalMart Yodel Boi,” Mason Ramsey gained instant popularity with a video of him singing Hank Williams’s “Homesick Blues.” Since then, the video has been auto tuned and captioned over and over again to the delight of Mason’s internet fans.

Jason Momoa sneaking up on Henry Cavill

pic.twitter.com/uTt7AkoJlA

— Tony Cordiliko (@BillyJoelOsment) April 26, 2018

The picture of Momoa sneaking up on Cavill is hilarious. Internet users found it relatable, too. Whether you’re sneaking up on a pint of ice cream or finals are sneaking up on you, this meme is great to share your feelings and share a laugh.

LeBron James’ NBA Finals reaction

Some of the best LeBron James JR Smith Memes in the aftermath of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. You can take JR Smith off the Knicks but you can never take the Knicks out of JR Smith. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/gi1FTHKkRu

— STAT Sports (@STATSports1) June 2, 2018

Clevelanders understood LeBron’s reaction when J.R. Smith blew it during the NBA Finals. Doesn’t make it any less funny, though.

Johnny Johnny

so i’m currently in my hospital bed and i can hear someone playing “johnny johnny yes papa” the fact that I know all the words is frightening pic.twitter.com/WUnm7JUpdd

— 𝖞𝖆𝖘𝖒𝖎𝖓 (@okayyarreaga) November 19, 2018

Maybe this one isn’t a meme in the purest sense, but it sure has made waves. YouTube videos aimed at kids can get pretty weird (ahem, Elsagate...), but this video is at a whole new level. This meme straddles the line between surreal and accidental satire.

Gritty

TFW you're the most terrifying mascot in the NHL pic.twitter.com/0IGCu00N82

— Terry (@tlheard12) September 24, 2018

The internet didn’t quite know how to respond to the Philadelphia Flyers’ new mascot when he debuted in September. Some saw Gritty as relatable, and others found his perpetual thousand-yard stare unnerving. Eventually fans warmed up to the feisty, fuzzy guy, but the memes are unforgiving.

Elon smoking

We've finally got the Elon Musk smoking weed memes. pic.twitter.com/z5ClI72CJM

— Vijay Sankar (@Pink_HeImet) September 7, 2018

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is a little outlandish to say the least. When a snapshot of Musk making a weird face while smoking weed on a podcast blew up, internet users got creative with captioning. Dually, the video prompted NASA to review the safety of SpaceX. Whoops.

Moth

pic.twitter.com/C719eccuHh

— Moth memes (@MothLampMemes) October 12, 2018

In July, a Reddit user posted a picture of a moth. Quickly, the meme reached peak surrealness, got its own subreddit and inspired a couple spin off memes. Someone get this moth a lamp.

Surprised Pikachu

Me: pushes phone under a pillow as I fall asleep
Me: wakes up the next morning to dead phone
Me: pic.twitter.com/wbHm1WThCa

— Surprised Pikachu (@SurprisedPika) November 11, 2018

The mock-surprise on Pikachu’s face reminds everyone about times they’ve done something stupid and faced the consequences. Detective Pikachu comes out next May. In the meantime, this meme is making its rounds across the internet by being #relatable.

Development by: Megan Knapp / Digital Production Editor

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