The ET Cinnamon Roll meme gained viral fame after a photo of a seemingly ordinary cinnamon roll circulated online, revealing a striking and uncanny resemblance to the titular character from Steven Spielberg's 1982 film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The pastry’s folds and glaze perfectly mimic E.T.’s wrinkled face and large, expressive eyes. It quickly became a staple for accidental pareidolia humor, where people see faces in inanimate objects. Users typically caption the image with references to the movie's famous quotes, like 'E.T. phone home,' or use it to represent feelings of being tired, crusty, or out of place. It’s a classic example of how simple, everyday objects can become legendary internet artifacts through a bit of imaginative recognition.