The Laughing Hitler meme typically utilizes archival footage or still frames from historical films where the dictator is seen in a rare moment of joviality. In internet culture, the image is used almost exclusively as a reaction meme to signal a sense of dark irony, disbelief, or to mock a person's absurd plan. While controversial due to its historical subject, it has persisted on various social media forums as a way to express a twisted sense of humor or to represent an extreme reaction to unexpected or dark news.