The 'My Precious' meme features the character Gollum (originally Sméagol) from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Portrayed through motion capture by Andy Serkis, Gollum's raspy whisper of the phrase 'My precious' while clutching the One Ring became an instant cultural phenomenon. The meme is universally used to describe someone's intense, often irrational possessiveness or obsession with something—ranging from a favorite food to a new gadget. Since the early 2000s, it has remained a staple of internet culture, perfectly capturing that feeling of 'must-have' desperation with a comedic, creepy twist.