The 'Force Majeure Avalanche' meme originates from a pivotal scene in Ruben Östlund’s 2014 film Force Majeure, where a controlled avalanche at a ski resort appears to be a real disaster. While the mother stays to protect the children, the father instinctively grabs his smartphone and flees the deck, leaving his family behind. This moment became an internet sensation for its visceral and darkly comedic depiction of human cowardice and the shattering of traditional hero tropes. The template is widely used to illustrate situations where someone prioritizes their own safety or convenience over their duties, often used to joke about avoiding social obligations, work deadlines, or awkward confrontations.