In the 2006 film 'The Wicker Man,' Nicholas Cage's character, Edward Malus, famously encounters a swarm of bees while on a mission to rescue his son on a mysterious island. His over-the-top reaction and panicked scream, 'Not the bees!' became a viral sensation, prompting users to adapt this moment into countless memes. The absurdity of the scene captures a range of emotions, from confusion to sheer terror, creating a perfect storm for meme adaptation. The meme is often used to express exasperation or fear towards something minor, showing how Cage’s dramatic overreaction resonates with audiences. Its usage transcends the original context, making it a staple in meme culture, where it's frequently paired with humorous captions to exaggerate everyday situations that evoke a similar reaction, thus bridging film and internet humor seamlessly.