You know the feeling. You’re scrolling through a comment section, or maybe you’re in a group chat where someone proposes a plan that is objectively terrible but also kind of incredible. Suddenly, there it is. The GIF of Morty Smith from Rick and Morty wearing a suit, pointing a finger, and uttering those immortal words: "Son of a bitch, I'm in." It’s everywhere. It has been for years.
Honestly, it’s one of those rare internet artifacts that hasn't decayed into cringe territory. Most memes have the shelf life of an open carton of milk in a heatwave, but the son of a bitch I'm in meme has this weird, staying power. It captures a very specific human emotion. It’s that moment of sudden, reckless commitment.
The meme originated from a Season 4 episode of Rick and Morty titled "One Crew over the Crewcoo's Morty." If you haven’t seen it, the episode is basically one giant, middle-finger parody of heist movies like Ocean’s Eleven. You know the trope. The leader spends thirty minutes of screentime recruiting a team of specialists who all initially refuse until they hear the "big plan." In the show, Rick is putting together a crew to out-heist a heist robot.
It’s meta. It’s cynical. It’s perfect.
The Origin Story of a Heist Trope Parody
When Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland wrote this episode, they weren't trying to create a viral sensation. They were trying to rip on the lazy writing found in ensemble action films. In the episode, Rick approaches different characters, and they all respond with the exact same scripted enthusiasm: "Son of a bitch, I'm in."
It’s a commentary on how easy it is to manipulate people (and audiences) with the promise of being part of something "epic." The scene specifically features Rick recruiting a character named Glar, then another named Angstrom Levy, and eventually, the joke culminates with Morty.
The episode aired on November 24, 2019. Within forty-eight hours, Reddit was flooded. Specifically, the r/rickandmorty subreddit became ground zero for the template. Users realized that this wasn't just a funny line; it was a universal reaction. It worked for everything from buying Bitcoin at its peak to agreeing to a third round of tequila shots on a Tuesday night.
One of the earliest and most popular versions involved the "Area 51 Raid" jokes that were still lingering in the zeitgeist back then. People would post a screenshot of a ridiculous plan to storm the base, followed by the Morty GIF. It just clicked.
Why Does This Specific Meme Refuse to Die?
Usually, when a show tries to be "memey," it fails miserably. Think about the "fellow kids" vibe of most corporate social media accounts. But the son of a bitch I'm in meme feels authentic because it mocks the very idea of jumping on a bandwagon.
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It’s self-aware.
The sentence structure of the meme is actually quite important. It’s a "staccato" delivery. Short. Punchy.
- The realization (Son of a bitch).
- The commitment (I’m in).
There’s no "maybe." No "let me check my calendar." It’s a total surrender to the chaos of the moment. We’ve all been there. You see a project that looks like a total disaster, but you also know it’s going to be a fun story later.
Another reason it sticks around is the visual of Morty himself. In the scene, he’s wearing a tuxedo. He looks like he’s trying way too hard to be cool, which mirrors how most of us feel when we agree to a "big idea." We’re playing a part. We’re leaning into the drama.
The Evolution into Crypto and WallStreetBets
While it started in the animation fandom, the son of a bitch I'm in meme took on a second life in the world of high-stakes finance—or at least, the "degenerate" side of it.
If you spent any time on r/WallStreetBets during the GameStop short squeeze era or watched the rise of Dogecoin, you saw Morty’s face a lot. In these communities, the meme became a shorthand for "I don't understand the math, I don't care about the risk, but I like the energy."
It’s the ultimate "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) response.
Someone posts a DD (Due Diligence) report that is basically just a bunch of rocket emojis and a chart that looks like a roller coaster. The first ten comments aren't critiques of the P/E ratio. They are just the GIF.
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- Scenario A: Someone suggests a 4:00 AM trip to a diner in a different state.
- Response: Son of a bitch, I’m in.
- Scenario B: A developer asks for volunteers to help build a weird open-source app that generates cat noises.
- Response: Son of a bitch, I’m in.
It’s a badge of honor for the impulsive.
How to Use the Meme Without Being Late to the Party
Look, memes are a language. If you use them wrong, you look like a "brand" trying to sell insurance. If you use them right, you’re just part of the conversation.
The key to the son of a bitch I'm in meme is the "low stakes, high enthusiasm" ratio. It shouldn't be used for serious life decisions. If your friend tells you they're getting a divorce, don't use this. That's a bad time.
Use it when the proposal is slightly absurd.
If you’re a content creator or a social media manager, the mistake most people make is over-explaining the joke. You don't need to caption it with "Me when my friends ask if I want pizza." The GIF literally says the words. Just post the image. Let the audience fill in the blanks. That’s where the humor lives—in the shared understanding of the absurdity.
The Cultural Weight of Rick and Morty
We can't talk about this meme without acknowledging the massive footprint of the show itself. Rick and Morty has a complicated legacy. It’s brilliant, but parts of the fanbase can be... intense. Remember the Szechuan sauce riots at McDonald’s? Yeah.
However, this meme stripped away the "toxic" elements of the fandom and left behind something purely relatable. It’s one of the few things from the show that everyone—even people who have never seen a single episode—can use and understand.
It has outgrown the source material.
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I’ve seen people use this meme who think Morty is just "some cartoon kid in a suit." And honestly? That’s the mark of a truly great meme. When the context of the original scene no longer matters because the image has become a universal symbol, you’ve hit the jackpot of internet culture.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Meme Culture
If you're trying to keep up with why things like this go viral, stop looking at the "what" and start looking at the "why."
People love the son of a bitch I'm in meme because it validates their own impulsivity. It makes a bad decision feel like a cinematic moment. If you want to engage with this kind of content, follow these simple steps to stay relevant:
First, recognize the context. Use this meme for "group-think" moments where logic is taking a backseat to fun. It’s a social lubricant for digital spaces.
Second, keep it visual. The text-only version of "Son of a bitch, I'm in" is okay, but the visual of Morty’s confident, slightly-dumb-looking face is what carries the emotional weight. The tuxedo is essential. It’s the "dressing up for a disaster" vibe.
Third, don't overstay your welcome. The beauty of this meme is its brevity. One post. One GIF. Move on.
Ultimately, the meme works because life is often boring and structured. We spend our days checking boxes and following schedules. When someone offers a "heist"—even if that heist is just staying up too late to finish a video game—saying "I’m in" feels like a small rebellion.
It’s a way to say "yes" to the chaos.
So, next time you see a plan that is 10% brilliance and 90% disaster, you know exactly what to do. Point that finger. Put on that metaphorical suit. And let the world know you're ready for the heist.
Find the right Discord server or Reddit thread where a ridiculous "heist" is being planned—be it a community project or a gaming raid—and drop the GIF at the peak of the conversation. See how the energy shifts when you lean into the bit. It's about the timing, not just the image. Keep it fast, keep it punchy, and never explain the joke.