The 'I Told You We Are Going to Watch X and Then You Can Leave' meme features a screenshot from the 2006 animated film Monster House, specifically depicting the character DJ looking intensely at Chowder. It gained massive popularity as a way to joke about forcing friends or partners to sit through extremely long, niche, or bizarre content, such as multi-hour video essays on YouTube or obscure cult films. The humor stems from the hostage-like intensity of the speaker, reflecting the passionate and sometimes overwhelming desire to share one's specific interests with others who may not be as enthusiastic.