Surprised Patrick originates from the 2004 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, specifically a scene where Patrick is astonished by the sight of the legendary Shell City. The screen capture of Patrick with his jaw dropped and eyes wide went viral in early 2013 on platforms like Tumblr and Reddit. Users began photoshopping the transparent cutout of Patrick into various historical events, famous movie scenes, and mundane situations to signify a dramatic overreaction or genuine shock. It remains a staple of internet culture due to its versatile expression of utter bewilderment and its status as a foundational 'reaction image' for the social media era.