The 'Put Down The Stapler' meme originates from the 2019 live-action film 'Pokémon Detective Pikachu.' In this high-energy scene, the amnesiac Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) confronts Tim Goodman (played by Justice Smith) in his father's apartment. Pikachu, feeling threatened and likely suffering from a caffeine rush, brandishes a stapler like a lethal weapon before realizing the absurdity of the situation and threatening to use his actual electric powers. The sharp contrast between the adorable Pikachu and his gritty, noir-detective persona made the clip instantly viral. In meme culture, this clip is the gold standard for representing overreactions to minor inconveniences or low-stakes standoffs. It captures feelings of irrational anger, desperation, and the 'small but dangerous' archetype. It is frequently used when a person feels protective over something trivial or when a situation escalates way too quickly. Example captions include: 'Me when my sibling touches my charger' or 'When someone tries to take the last slice of pizza you specifically saved for later.'