The 'Willem Dafoe Looking Up' meme originates from a poignant scene in the 2018 film 'At Eternity's Gate,' where Willem Dafoe portrays the legendary artist Vincent van Gogh. The template captures a moment of profound realization, awe, or existential dread as Dafoe gazes toward the heavens. It surged in popularity across TikTok and Twitter as a versatile reaction image used to illustrate situations where someone is helplessly watching a disaster unfold from above. From relatable scenarios like a bird aiming for a clean car to more abstract cosmic horrors, the sheer intensity of Dafoe's expression makes it a perfect vessel for high-stakes humor and dramatic irony.