Big Brain Meme EXPLAINED: How Galaxy-Sized Logic Became the Internet’s Smartest Joke
The Big Brain meme is one of the internet’s funniest ways to call out fake-deep thinking. It shows a series of brains that get bigger, flashier, and more “galactic” with each new idea—often ending with the most ridiculous or wrong take looking like a moment of pure genius. That’s the joke. What started as a visual ranking of smart thoughts quickly turned into a parody of overthinking, overconfidence, and people trying way too hard to sound clever. At Grumpysharks, we’ll break down how this meme started, what makes it so funny, and why it became the internet’s favorite way to mock “galaxy brain” logic.
#1 What Is the Big Brain Meme?
The Big Brain meme is a popular internet joke that shows how people can take a simple idea and pretend it’s incredibly smart, even when it’s not. The meme usually includes a set of images showing brains getting bigger and brighter with each new idea. But here’s the twist: the “smartest” idea in the final panel is often the most ridiculous one.
It’s a funny way to point out how some people overthink things or act like they’re clever when they’re just being dramatic. The Big Brain meme flips logic upside down, and that’s exactly why it works so well.
#2 Where Did the Big Brain Meme Come From?
The Big Brain meme originally grew out of the “Whomst” meme, which played with exaggerated versions of the word “who”, like “whomst,” “whomst’d,” and “whomst’d’ve.” Each version was paired with an increasingly complex and glowing image of a human brain, meant to humorously suggest rising levels of intelligence.
One of the earliest and most widely credited examples was posted to Reddit’s r/dankmemes subreddit on January 31, 2017, by user u/janskishimanski. The post featured four panels, starting with “who” next to a dim brain and ending with “whomst’d’ve” beside an absurdly cosmic, radiating brain. The post gained close to 1,200 upvotes and helped establish the visual format that would quickly evolve into what we now know as the Galaxy Brain meme.
Though it began as a linguistic joke, the format was soon repurposed to mock everything from flawed logic to fake-deep internet takes. By mid-2017, the meme had spread across Tumblr, Twitter, and beyond, cementing its place as one of the internet’s favorite ways to parody “big” ideas that aren’t so big after all.
#3 How Does the Big Brain Meme Work?
The Big Brain meme works by showing a series of brains that look more powerful in each panel, starting with a small or quiet brain and ending with a glowing, cosmic one. Each brain is matched with a different idea or opinion. At first, the ideas seem simple or normal. But by the last panel, the idea is usually silly, extreme, or completely wrong.
That’s what makes it funny. The meme pretends the most ridiculous thought is the smartest one, just because the brain looks huge and dramatic. It’s not about showing real intelligence—it’s about making fun of people who act like their strange or over-the-top ideas are brilliant.
#4 How Did the Big Brain Meme Spread?
The original “Whomst” version kicked off in late January 2017, but the meme rapidly evolved as creators swapped its grammar joke for topics like games, politics, and daily quirks. Early variations showed up all over Reddit, especially in r/dankmemes and r/MemeEconomy throughout February.
In February 2017, a key moment came when user BagelBoy posted a video version of the meme. It stitched together brain-expansion visuals synced with escalating captions, earning more than 2.1 million views.
Its reach extended beyond Reddit. Major outlets like PopSugar, New York Magazine, and Mic covered the meme as early as March 2017, highlighting its ironic charm and how it poked fun at “deep thinking” culture online.
By spring 2017, it was everywhere: Tumblr and Twitter users shared their own versions, Instagram pages compiled them, and meme generators on sites like Imgflip made it easy for anyone to join in .
#5 Why Is the Big Brain Meme So Popular?
1. Universality of the Template
The Big Brain meme works because it’s instantly recognizable and easy to follow. You don’t need to know the backstory or even speak the same language—just seeing a brain “upgrade” from quiet to cosmic sets the stage for a punchline. That simple structure makes it a go-to format for creators around the world. Anyone can plug in their own ideas and instantly get the joke.
2. Relatability in Mocking Overcomplication or “Fake Intelligence”
We’ve all seen people act like they’re the smartest person in the room—especially online. The Big Brain meme captures that perfectly. It pokes fun at those who overthink simple things, throw around big words, or come up with ideas that sound deep but fall apart with logic. It’s a clever way to say, “this sounds smart… but it’s actually nonsense,” and that kind of satire hits home for a lot of people.
3. Memetic Adaptability Across Cultures and Platforms
Whether it’s used in English, Spanish, or memes from across the globe, the Big Brain format easily adapts to different voices, trends, and topics. From video game debates and school struggles to politics and pop culture, it fits just about any context. Platforms like Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and even YouTube Shorts have kept the format alive by reworking it again and again—proof that when a meme works this well, it doesn’t fade. It evolves.
#6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is the Big Brain meme still relevant in 2025?
Yes—though not as viral as in its 2017 peak, the Big Brain meme is still used today, especially in niche humor communities on Reddit, Twitter, and TikTok. It now often appears as a retro or ironic reference, reused in meme compilations or blended with newer formats. Its flexible structure and timeless sarcasm keep it alive in meme culture.
2. Who created the first version of the meme?
The first widely recognized version was posted by Reddit user u/janskishimanski on January 31, 2017, in r/dankmemes. It featured the progression from “who” to “whomst’d’ve,” paired with images of increasingly glowing brains. That post is considered the origin of the Expanding Brain format that later evolved into Galaxy Brain memes.
3. Can the meme be used seriously or educationally?
It can—but only with a wink. Some educators and science communicators have playfully used the format to compare real ideas or illustrate creative thinking. But its tone is still rooted in irony. If used in a serious setting, it’s best done with humor in mind, acknowledging that the format is a parody of overthinking—not a celebration of actual intelligence.
#7 Conclusion
The Big Brain meme isn’t just a relic of 2017 internet humor—it’s a perfect snapshot of how we laugh at ourselves. It takes the world’s worst logic, wraps it in exploding neurons and cosmic light, and somehow makes it feel genius. That’s the charm. It’s smart because it’s stupid. And it’s stupid on purpose.
From grammar jokes to full-blown galaxy brain chaos, this meme has earned its place in the hall of fame—not just for being funny, but for how effortlessly it adapts to whatever the internet throws at it next.
At GrumpySharks, we don’t just explain memes—we track how they evolve, why they stick, and what they say about all of us online. So if you’re into brainy nonsense, cultural rabbit holes, or just love watching the internet outsmart itself, you’re in good company.
