The 'Not the Bees!' meme originates from the 2006 remake of the horror film 'The Wicker Man,' starring Nicolas Cage. In the climactic scene, Cage's character, Edward Malus, is tortured by having a mesh helmet filled with live bees placed over his head. His over-the-top performance and frantic delivery of the line 'No, not the bees! They’re in my eyes!' became an instant internet classic shortly after the film's release. It is widely used to represent dramatic overreactions, genuine distress, or simply as a tribute to Cage's uniquely intense acting style. The meme gained significant traction on YouTube and image boards, cementing its place in the hall of fame for unintentional comedy.