The 'Willem Dafoe Wide-Angle Close-Up' meme originates from the 2018 biographical drama 'At Eternity's Gate,' where Dafoe portrays the tortured artist Vincent van Gogh. The specific shot uses a wide-angle lens to create a distorted, intimate view of Dafoe looking toward the heavens with a mix of awe and despair. It became a viral sensation on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, where users pair the dramatic visual with captions about mundane or overwhelming life experiences. The meme's popularity stems from Dafoe's powerful facial expressions and the unique cinematography, making it an ideal template for portraying moments of intense realization, cosmic horror, or spiritual awakening.