Memes usually die fast. Most of them have the shelf life of a carton of milk left out in the July sun, but every so often, the internet latches onto something so viscerally relatable that it just... stays. That’s exactly what happened with the Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal meme.
You know the one. You’ve seen it a thousand times while scrolling TikTok or Reels. Nicolas Cage is sitting in the passenger seat of a car, looking like he’s having a total existential crisis—terrified, confused, and deeply suspicious. Then, the camera pans to Pedro Pascal in the driver’s seat, and he’s wearing this wide, goofy, absolute sunbeam of a smile.
The contrast is hilarious. It’s basically the visual definition of "two types of people." But where did it come from? And why, years after the movie actually hit theaters, are we still using these two to describe our everyday trauma and triumphs?
The Trip That Started a Viral Phenomenon
First, let's get the facts straight. The footage isn't from a random commercial or a deleted scene. It’s a pivotal moment from the 2022 film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
In the movie, Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalized, washed-up version of himself. Pedro Pascal plays Javi Gutierrez, a billionaire superfan who pays Cage $1 million to attend his birthday party. The plot is a wild, meta-adventure where they end up becoming actual best friends while running from arms dealers.
The specific car scene happens about 45 minutes in. Javi (Pascal) convinces Nick (Cage) that they need to "open their minds" to write a great screenplay. Translation: they take LSD.
The meme captures the exact moment the drugs kick in.
- Nicolas Cage is the guy having the "bad trip" portion, suddenly realizing he’s lost control of reality.
- Pedro Pascal is having the best time of his entire life.
Honestly, the chemistry between them is what makes the movie work. It wasn't just a gimmick; these two genuinely liked each other. During a Reddit AMA, Cage called Pascal a "genuinely nice man" and a "pleasant person to work with." That real-life bromance translates perfectly into a 10-second loop.
The Mama Cass Factor: Adding the Soundtrack
If you’ve watched the meme, you’ve heard the song. It’s a upbeat, 1969 classic called "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by Cass Elliot (Mama Cass).
Here’s a weird bit of trivia: that song isn't actually playing in the movie during that specific car shot. In the original film, the soundtrack is more of a bluesy, psychedelic vibe. It wasn't until TikToker @gh0uliasux posted an edit in February 2023 with the Mama Cass track that the meme truly evolved into its final, viral form.
The song adds a layer of "blissful ignorance" to Pedro Pascal’s face. It makes him look like he’s living in a musical while Cage is trapped in a psychological thriller.
Why the Internet Won't Let It Go
The reason the Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal meme survived the 2023 trend cycle is its versatility. It’s a "duality" meme. It works for literally any situation where two people have wildly different vibes:
- Work: Your boss (Pascal) announcing "mandatory fun" vs. You (Cage) just trying to get through the day.
- Relationships: Telling your boyfriend the same story for the 15th time.
- Gaming: One player who’s played Elden Ring for 500 hours vs. the terrified newbie who just walked into a boss room.
It’s about the disconnect. We’ve all been the person looking at our friend wondering, "How are you this happy right now?"
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A Masterclass in Accidental Marketing
Interestingly, the movie didn't set the world on fire at the box office. It was a critical darling—currently sitting with high scores on Rotten Tomatoes—but it wasn't a billion-dollar blockbuster.
The meme changed that. Thousands of people ended up streaming The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent simply because they wanted to know why Pedro Pascal was smiling like that. It’s a rare case where a TikTok trend actually drove people back to the original source material.
There’s also the "Pedro Pascal Peak" factor. Around the same time this meme blew up, Pascal was everywhere because of The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. He became the "Internet’s Daddy," and his face was essentially currency for engagement. Pairing him with the king of "Cage Rage" was like catching lightning in a bottle.
How to Use the Template Yourself
If you’re looking to make your own version, you don't need to be a video editor. Most people use CapCut or Kapwing, which have pre-made "green screen" templates of the car scene.
Pro-tip for the best results:
- Identify the Conflict: The meme works best when the "Cage" character is the victim of the "Pascal" character's enthusiasm.
- The Beat Drop: Sync your text to the moment the camera moves to Pedro Pascal's face.
- Keep it Niche: The more specific the scenario (like a very specific hobby or a weird work interaction), the better it usually performs.
What’s Next for the Duo?
While there isn’t a sequel to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent in the works (yet), the impact of this pairing is permanent. It redefined Nicolas Cage for a younger generation who maybe only knew him from National Treasure or old memes. It showed he could poke fun at himself.
As for Pascal, it solidified him as a comedic powerhouse, not just the "grumpy guy with a kid" archetype he plays in his TV shows.
If you haven't actually watched the full movie, do it. The car scene is great, but the scene where they try to jump over a wall while high—or the sequence involving a life-sized wax statue of Nicolas Cage—is arguably even funnier.
Your next step: Head over to a streaming platform like Hulu or Peacock (where it often lives) and watch the actual context of the car ride. Seeing the full 105-minute build-up makes those facial expressions even more rewarding. Once you've seen the "Paddington 2" debate between them, you'll never look at the meme the same way again.