The 'So You Have Chosen Death' meme originates from the 2001 film 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.' In this iconic scene, the wizard Saruman (played by Christopher Lee) delivers the line to Gandalf the Grey after the latter refuses to join forces with the dark lord Sauron. The image of Saruman standing tall with a menacing expression became an internet sensation, typically used as a reaction to someone making a poor life choice, starting a futile argument, or simply provoking the poster. It captures the essence of a 'fatal mistake' in a humorous, over-the-top way, making it a staple in meme culture for addressing everything from gaming blunders to everyday social media disagreements.