What is the But It Came Out in 2007 meme, now trending all over social media?
A new Internet trend has taken social media by storm, with the closing sequence to Michael Bay’s Transformers being used as a template against popular film endings.
Michael Bay’s blockbuster action flick Transformers, the first major live action adaptation of the Japanese toy franchise of the same name, was a defining part of most millennial childhoods.
The film followed two rival intergalactic robot races - the Autobots and the Decepticons - as they crash land on Earth in an attempt to find the ultimate source of power, the Allspark. These robots had the unique ability to ‘transform’ into a vehicle of their choice, hence the name.
Though panned by critics, Transformers was a smash hit at the box office, grossing $709 million worldwide, and was also nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
Let’s be honest, Transformers was super cool. Trashy, cheesy and horribly acted, but super cool nonetheless.
One of the most distinct memories every fan has of the film, however, is its infamous closing sequence:
As the noble Autobots claimed victory over the evil Decepticons, their valiant leader, Optimus Prime stares out into a twilight sky and proclaims one of the most iconic lines in cinematic history,
“My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message. Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend…our home.”Nuff said pic.twitter.com/xdO4z6BVeB
— Yo B (@aspec_b) April 5, 2020
Optimus Prime could convince me that my mama was a Decepticon https://t.co/an7ZdAOwjU
— Addis (@ABedilu) December 19, 2019
Bruh I’ll go to war behind Optimus prime. Ten toes down
— Heaukage Jeaux💸 (@JawaunTheMack) December 19, 2019
Optimus Prime had me thinking I could turn into a car and die for the homies
— 👉🏾👈🏾Simpy (@DavidSnapped) April 5, 2020
Prime gonna have you ready to die for the cause and be proud to do it.
— Malcolm Xcellent (@J_Nova_Kane) April 4, 2020
However, what really drives home this speech and marks one of the most memorable cut to credits was the use of American rock band Linkin Park’s, What I’ve Done as the soundtrack for this closing sequence .
What I’ve Done was also released in 2007 as the first single to their album Minutes to Midnight. It is the band's most commercially successful single in terms of pure sales and reached the 7th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 besides being nominated for a Grammy award.
Its inclusion in Transformers... well, let’s just say that an Optimus Prime speech set to a Linkin Park track was quite possibly the most badass closing sequence to have ever graced our eyes (and ears). And the internet really hasn’t forgotten that.
Lately, a wave of new memes has swept social media with the “but it came out in 2007” trend really exploding over the internet. Hilarious edits of What I’ve Done set to choppily cut final segments to popular films have begun to flood the internet.
The “insert movie” but it came out in 2007 thing is making Linkin Park and “What I’ve Done” boom again and that’s all I need to get behind it.#LinkinPark
— Slowest Man Alive (@mr_meme_alot) August 23, 2022
The “but it came out in 2007” is my new favorite genre of tweets LMAO pic.twitter.com/c5O7n82k6U
— ʙʟᴀᴄᴋᴀɢᴀʀ ↭ ʙᴏʟᴛᴀɢᴏɴ (@MalikHaelstrom) August 25, 2022
Here are some of the best, “but it came out in 2007” memes we’ve come across,
(spoiler alert for films you haven’t watched yet)
A major improvement to the original ending if we’re being honest...
Game of Thrones ending but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/U8sOpH3LtO
— 90's Nation (@90s_nation) August 23, 2022
Just when you thought Godzilla couldn’t get any cooler...
Godzilla: King of the Monsters but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/23rKFa9FHe
— Matheus Silva (@HeroesFanProd) August 26, 2022
Yep, this fits pretty well...
Iron Man but instead of coming out in 2008 it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/7tnW7AU4vr
— Drip Marvel Podcast (@drip_marvel) August 25, 2022
Just the sort of reaction the final Hello There ought to gauge...
Obi-Wan Kenobi but it came out in 2007. (Now with Obi-Wan's message)
— Matheus Silva (@HeroesFanProd) August 24, 2022
Idea credit goes to @MaceAhWindu! pic.twitter.com/rlUUXipYR4
Okay this has no right fitting so well...
'Avengers: Infinity War' but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/xzXnMaxzu3
— The Big Picture (@TheBigPic) August 23, 2022
Oooof, now this was awesome...
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/x19zGV0uqt
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) August 26, 2022
And one with the 'Chazelle Stare' of course.
So I know I'm late with this trend but...
— Charlie Shields (@CShieldsFilm) August 24, 2022
La La Land if it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/K51i7YQe0U
Bet Nolan fans are trembling right about now.
TDK but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/yDzPML0yfs
— Rogue (@ScreenRogue) August 20, 2022
This is just about every anime ending ever though.
Attack On Titan but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/6OJ7vuXxnw
— Λckeldia (@Ackeldia) August 28, 2022
And one in light of The Rings of Power drop...
'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/WKkhyZhWWn
— Three Films and a Podcast (@threefilmspod) August 24, 2022
Do we have a winner here?
JOKER but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/isq7tl6NF1
— Sammy (@SammyJReacts) August 27, 2022
Now we do.
RRR but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/sBlgSDo0NI
— Reuben Baron (@AndalusianDoge) August 23, 2022
We could go on and on; the list of memes is rather voluminous. Though the meme has catapulted the track and Linkin Park back on the Top Charts, it still serves as a somber reminder...
The “X if it came out in 2007” is a fun, light hearted meme.
— rayyy lmao (@RayNarvaezJr) August 27, 2022
But every time I see it I get a little sad thinking about Chester Bennington. I think he would’ve got a kick outta this meme 🥲
The former lead vocalist and songwriter for Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, lost his life battling severe depression and substance abuse in 2017; a tragic, unforeseen death that shocked the world.
Bennington’s memory stays strong, five years after his untimely passing and the latest trend fortifies the belief that Linkin Park shall stay evergreen forever, 2007 or not.
Here’s one last surge of nostalgia for the fans:
What I've Done by Linkin Park but it came out in 2007 pic.twitter.com/gCFkiKc3OS
— Valhalla Kid (@kidvalhalla) August 24, 2022