Martin Scorsese didn't ask to become a meme. He's one of the greatest living filmmakers, a man who spent decades meticulously crafting masterpieces like Raging Bull and Goodfellas. But the internet is a weird place. It takes legends and turns them into templates. If you’ve spent any time on Film Twitter or TikTok recently, you’ve definitely seen it—the cinema Martin Scorsese meme in its many, many forms.
It usually starts with a specific look. Maybe it’s that photo of him looking intensely at a monitor, or perhaps it’s the clip of him gesturing wildly while talking about the "sanctity" of the theater. Sometimes it’s just his eyebrows. Honestly, those eyebrows do a lot of the heavy lifting. The meme isn't just one image; it’s a vibe. It’s the personification of "Absolute Cinema."
The Birth of "This is Cinema"
The core of the cinema Martin Scorsese meme phenomenon really exploded around the release of The Irishman and his now-infamous comments about Marvel movies. You remember the "theme parks" quote. In a 2019 interview with Empire magazine, Scorsese suggested that superhero blockbusters aren't "cinema" in the way he understands it—as a medium for emotional, psychological revelation between human beings.
People lost their minds.
Half the internet wanted to defend their favorite caped crusaders, while the other half—the cinephiles—rallied behind Marty. This friction created the perfect environment for memes. Suddenly, any movie that felt slightly "artsy" or featured a long take was labeled "Cinema" with a capital C, often accompanied by a photo of Scorsese looking contemplative or giving a thumbs up.
It’s ironic. Scorsese is a film historian. He spends his free time and money through The Film Foundation to preserve obscure international movies. Yet, to a 19-year-old on Reddit, he’s the "Absolute Cinema" guy.
Why the "Absolute Cinema" Image Stuck
You've seen the one. It’s a low-quality, slightly deep-fried image of Scorsese holding his hands up, looking like he’s just witnessed a miracle. The caption? Usually just "Absolute Cinema."
It started as a way to mock film snobs. If a movie was particularly pretentious, you’d drop the meme. But then, as memes often do, it pivoted. It became sincere. Now, when a movie has a genuinely incredible shot—like the opening of Gravity or a particularly tense scene in The Bear—people use the meme to show genuine appreciation.
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It’s a shorthand. Instead of writing a 500-word Letterboxd review about lighting and pacing, you just post Marty. Everyone knows what you mean.
The Goncharov Hoax: When Marty "Directed" a Movie That Doesn't Exist
If we’re talking about the cinema Martin Scorsese meme, we have to talk about Goncharov (1973). This is perhaps the greatest collective hallucination in the history of the internet.
In late 2022, Tumblr users "discovered" a lost Scorsese film titled Goncharov. They created posters, wrote detailed plot summaries about Russian gangsters in Naples, and even composed a theme song. People debated the homoerotic subtext between Goncharov and Andrey. They analyzed the symbolism of the clocks.
The catch? The movie isn't real.
It started from a photo of a "knock-off" pair of boots that had a label mentioning Scorsese and the title Goncharov. The internet took that tiny mistake and built an entire cinematic universe. Even Scorsese’s daughter, Francesca, got in on the joke. She shared a screenshot of a text to her dad asking if he actually made the movie. His response? "Yes, I made that film years ago."
He’s in on the joke. That’s why the memes work. He isn't a grouchy old man shouting at clouds; he’s a guy who loves movies so much that his passion has become a universal language.
The "Francesca Scorsese" Effect
We can't ignore the role of Francesca Scorsese in humanizing the legend. Through her TikTok account, we’ve seen Martin Scorsese guess slang terms like "tea," "rizz," and "slept on."
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Watching a man who won an Oscar for The Departed try to define "gyatt" is a surreal experience. It bridges the gap between the untouchable Hollywood elite and the digital native. These videos go viral instantly because they play with our expectations. We expect a stern lecture on Italian Neorealism; we get a cute dad who is slightly confused by the internet but happy to be there.
This "Wholesome Marty" persona has birthed a different subspecies of the cinema Martin Scorsese meme. It’s less about gatekeeping and more about the joy of being a fan. When he ranks his favorite movies or talks about his dog, Oscar, it reinforces the idea that "Cinema" is for everyone, even if he still thinks Marvel movies are a bit like Disneyland.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Gatekeeper" Narrative
There’s a common misconception that the cinema Martin Scorsese meme represents a man who hates modern entertainment. That’s just not true.
If you actually read his 2019 New York Times op-ed—the one he wrote to clarify his Marvel comments—his argument was about the disappearance of risk. He wasn't attacking the craft of the people making those movies. He was attacking the industry's shift toward "market-researched, audience-tested, vetted, modified, revetted and remodified" content.
The meme often simplifies this into "Old Man Hates Spider-Man." In reality, Scorsese is worried that smaller, personal films won't have a place in theaters anymore. When you post the "Absolute Cinema" meme, you're actually participating in a conversation about the value of art over commerce, even if you’re just doing it for the lolz.
The Anatomy of a Scorsese Meme
What makes a good one? Usually, it involves a few key elements:
- The Eyebrows: They are iconic. They express more emotion than most actors' entire bodies.
- The Hand Gestures: Scorsese talks with his hands. A lot. It’s perfect for capturing mid-motion screenshots that look dramatic.
- The Contrast: Putting Scorsese’s face next to something completely un-Scorsese-like. For example, a "This is Cinema" caption over a clip of The Patrick Star Show.
- The Intensity: He never looks "chill." He’s always 100% engaged, which makes for great reaction images.
The Impact on Film Culture
It’s easy to dismiss this as "internet brain rot," but these memes actually drive engagement with film history.
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When a meme about Goncharov or Taxi Driver goes viral, younger audiences often look up the actual filmography. They discover Silence or The King of Comedy. They realize that the guy from the TikToks is the same guy who directed The Wolf of Wall Street.
The meme acts as a gateway drug. It takes the intimidation factor out of "prestige" filmmaking. By making Scorsese a meme, the internet has made him accessible. He’s no longer just a name on a textbook; he’s a character we all know.
Beyond the Image: Real Actionable Insights for Cinephiles
If you’ve enjoyed the memes and want to actually understand the "Cinema" Marty is talking about, don't just stop at the images. The best way to engage with this culture is to see through the director's eyes.
Start by watching the "Scorsese List." A few years ago, Scorsese famously gave a list of 39 essential foreign films to a young filmmaker. It includes classics like 8½, Rashomon, and Metropolis. If you want to know what "Absolute Cinema" really looks like, that’s your syllabus.
Support your local independent theater. The whole point of the meme’s origin was the fear that theaters are becoming homogenized. Check out a screening of an old movie or an indie flick that doesn't have a $200 million marketing budget.
Use Letterboxd intentionally. Don't just log movies to hit a number. Use the platform to find lists curated by people who actually understand film theory. Look for "Scorsesecore" lists—they’re usually filled with gritty, urban dramas and high-intensity character studies.
Watch his documentaries on film. A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies is basically a multi-hour version of his best memes. He explains why certain shots matter and why he loves the medium so much. It’s the ultimate "This is Cinema" experience.
The cinema Martin Scorsese meme is more than just a joke. It’s a testament to a man’s enduring influence on how we see the world through a lens. Whether he’s being serious about the state of the industry or being a "nepo dad" on his daughter’s TikTok, Scorsese remains the gold standard. Next time you see a movie that makes you feel something real, don't be afraid to drop the meme. Marty would probably approve.
Instead of just scrolling past the next meme, take five minutes to look up the movie it’s referencing. You might find your new favorite film. Or, at the very least, you’ll understand why those eyebrows are so famous.