The 'Nic Cage in Kazakhstan' meme originated in July 2017 after a photograph surfaced of actor Nicolas Cage attending the Eurasia International Film Festival in Astana. In the image, Cage is seen wearing a traditional Kazakh chapan and a fur hat while standing next to a local official, sporting a vacant and slightly pained expression. The internet quickly latched onto his thousand-yard stare and seemingly existential dread, turning the photo into a symbol for being wildly out of place or regretting a series of life choices. It is frequently used to mock awkward formal events, the feeling of being overdressed, or moments of pure social confusion.