GTA memes

The 34 biggest memes from every GTA, most viral first, each with what it means and where it comes from. Make your own with the meme maker, or grab an HD template or a GIF from the official GTA 6 trailers.

Make a GTA meme

Pick a picture, add your text, download. It all happens in your browser.

Top textBottom textText size

Picture: Brian leaning out of his truck, © Rockstar Games

The most viral GTA memes

Ranked by how far each one spread: view counts, how often it's shared and how big outlets say it got. The videos are embedded from the people who posted them.

01San Andreas2019
Ah shit, here we go again
“Ah shit, here we go again.”
Used whenever something annoying or familiar starts happening all over again. Rockstar itself put the clip at the top of its page for the 2021 Definitive Edition, which PC Gamer tied to the meme.
Where it's from: CJ's first line in GTA San Andreas (2004), said after corrupt cops dump him in Ballas territory at the start of the game. A YouTube upload in January 2015 got it going, and in April 2019 a green-screen version of the scene turned it into an editable meme.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com, pcgamer.com
AH SHIT, HERE WE GO AGAIN (2004 vs 2021) 4K | GTA San Andreas The Definitive EditionVideo by Gorko7 on YouTube
02GTA 62023
We got X before GTA 6
“No way we got X before GTA 6”
People attach it to any surprising news, product launch or world event to joke that it arrived before GTA 6. When Rockstar announced the delay to November 2026, Kotaku called it an already ubiquitous meme.
Where it's from: A comment template that grew out of the 12-plus-year wait after GTA V (2013). Scattered posts existed earlier, but it took off in summer 2023 when TikTokers joked that "we got aliens before GTA 6" after the UFO hearing in the US Congress. Every GTA 6 delay (to May 2026, then to November 19, 2026) gave it a new wave.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com, kotaku.com
We Are Getting Everything Before GTA 6Video by Lessons in Meme Culture on YouTube
03San Andreas2010
Big Smoke's order
“I'll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip...”
Quoted in full as a joke about huge orders, used in prank calls and remixed into songs.
Where it's from: From the San Andreas mission "Drive-Thru" (2004), where Big Smoke reads out a huge fast food order at Cluckin' Bell. A 2010 YouTube upload of the scene spread it, and the order later became a copypasta, prank-call soundboard and remix favourite.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
GTA:SA - Big Smoke's OrderVideo by james227uk on YouTube
04GTA 52013 (remix wave 2020)
Lamar roasts Franklin (yee-yee ass haircut)
“that old yee-yee ass haircut”
"Yee-yee ass" became slang for anything that looks bad, and the scene is the go-to template for roast remixes. Note: the full original line contains slurs, so quote only the haircut part.
Where it's from: A cutscene after the GTA V mission "Franklin and Lamar" (2013), where Lamar mocks Franklin's haircut. It was a fan favourite from launch, and in 2020 a wave of "X roasts Franklin" edits swapped Lamar for cartoon characters and celebrities.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Lamar Roasts Franklin in 8KVideo by DraKulis on YouTube
05San Andreas2010-2014
All we had to do was follow the damn train, CJ
“All we had to do was follow the damn train, CJ!”
Shorthand for a simple task that went badly wrong, and for the mission many fans call the worst in GTA. Kotaku says even people who never played it know it as a meme. GTA V's "Derailed" mission has a gold medal goal called "Better than CJ" as a nod to it.
Where it's from: Big Smoke's line when you fail "Wrong Side of the Tracks" in GTA San Andreas (2004), the mission where CJ chases Vagos on a train while Smoke shoots. Videos of failing it spread from 2010.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com, kotaku.com
ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS FOLLOW THE DAMN TRAIN CJ!Video by Tunes on YouTube
06GTA Online2015
Hoodini
“What do you call a magic owl? Hoodini!”
"Hoodini" became a stock reply dropped into YouTube comments under almost any video, the same way people used to answer everything with "Darude - Sandstorm".
Where it's from: A joke told by a player in an owl mask at a GTA Online comedy club in VanossGaming's "GTA 5 Online Funny Moments" video (June 22, 2015).
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
GTA 5 Online Funny Moments - Comedy Club Fun! (Hoodini)Video by VanossGaming on YouTube
07GTA 42008
Let's go bowling
“Niko, it's Roman! Let's go bowling!”
A running joke about a friend who will not stop asking you to hang out, and one of the best-known GTA IV memes.
Where it's from: Roman Bellic's phone invitation to Niko in GTA IV (2008). Roman is the first friend you meet and calls often, usually at bad moments, so most players heard it again and again. Oney's 2008 GTA parody cartoon used the joke too.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Hey Niko! Its Roman, lets go bowling (GTA IV)Video by MrAnsonic on YouTube
08Every GTA2014
Wasted
“Wasted”
Added to the end of fail videos and GIFs to show someone (or something) coming off worst, the way the game shows your death.
Where it's from: The death screen used since the first Grand Theft Auto (1997). From GTA IV on it shows the death in slow motion and black and white with "Wasted" in red. In 2014 the /r/wastedgifs subreddit started adding it to real-life fail clips.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Wasted screens from every GTA (2020)Video by GTA Content Channel on YouTube
09GTA 42020-2021
GTA IV loading screen parodies
Any group of characters or people gets the GTA IV intro treatment, which makes them look like a crime-game cast.
Where it's from: GTA IV (2008) opens with a loading screen of character stills over a hip-hop beat. Fans began remaking it with other games and shows from 2010, and the trend peaked in late 2020 and early 2021.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
GTA 4 Loading Screen Theme HDVideo by Ronon1987 on YouTube
10GTA 52013
Mount Chiliad mystery
The best-known GTA myth: fans spent years trading theories about hidden rewards behind it, and it is shorthand for an unsolved game mystery.
Where it's from: A mural of strange symbols in the cable car station on top of Mount Chiliad, found by players right after GTA V launched in September 2013. A wiki page and the /r/chiliadmystery subreddit followed within days.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
This is The End of The Mount Chiliad Mystery...Video by Gator Keys on YouTube
11GTA 52016
Watch yo jet
“Watch yo jet!”
Used as a warning before any incoming disaster, and its audio gets pasted into other clips.
Where it's from: A GTA V clip of a player skydiving and being hit by a jet while the narrator shouts a warning. It circulated from 2015 and a March 2016 upload passed 3.1 million views.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Aye Bro Watch Yo Jet!Video by Memefarm Rights Management on YouTube
12Every GTA2021
Coca-Cola GTA ad
Used for wholesome twists: someone who looks like trouble turns out to be kind.
Where it's from: "Video Game", a 2006 Coca-Cola commercial by Wieden+Kennedy that copies GTA's look but has the tough guy doing good deeds. It aired at the Super Bowl XLI half-time in 2007. In March 2021 a TikTok of it took off.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Coca-Cola VideogameVideo by CocaColaSuperbowl on YouTube
13GTA 52019
Davey, how you doing?
“Davey! How you doing?”
Videos show Michael arriving in the silliest possible way and still saying the line as if nothing happened.
Where it's from: Michael's greeting to FIB agent Dave Norton when the GTA V mission "Dead Man Walking" starts. A speedrun trick (DarkViperAU, 2019) of jumping from an exploding blimp still triggers the cheerful greeting, and a 2019 clip of it went viral.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Davey!Video by CrazyWeeMonkey on YouTube
14Every GTA2012
GTA logic
Used to point out the strange rules and glitches that only make sense in a GTA game.
Where it's from: Image macros about GTA's plot holes, glitches and odd rules. The phrase appears on FunnyJunk in January 2011 and spread on 9GAG from 2012.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Evolution of COPS LOGIC #2 in GTA Games (2001-2020)Video by ENXGMA on YouTube
15GTA Online2020
GTA Online alien gang war
A player-made gang war: squads in matching alien suits griefing lobbies and fighting the other colour, which took over GTA Online clips in 2020.
Where it's from: Arena War (December 2018) added green and purple alien bodysuits to GTA Online. In 2019 and especially April 2020, groups of players in matching green suits started ganging up on lobbies, and purple gangs formed to fight them.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Green Versus Purple: The Alien Gang War That Hijacked GTA OnlineVideo by IGN on YouTube
16Every GTA2022
Squidward kicks every GTA protagonist out of his house
Squidward throws the series' leads out of his house one by one, voiced with their own lines.
Where it's from: A SpongeBob scene where Squidward throws SpongeBob and Patrick out became a remix format in June 2022. GTA Content Channel's version with the GTA protagonists is one of the most popular edits.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Squidward kicks every GTA protagonist out of his houseVideo by GTA Content Channel on YouTube
17GTA 52020
They can't keep getting away with this (GTA V re-releases)
“They can't keep getting away with this”
A joke that Rockstar keeps selling GTA V again on new platforms while fans wait for GTA 6.
Where it's from: When Rockstar announced GTA V for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S at a June 2020 PS5 showcase, players posted dozens of memes about the game coming to a third console generation. GamesRadar highlighted a streamer yelling "they can't keep getting away with this" at the logo.
Sources: gamesradar.com
Grand Theft Auto V - Coming to New Generation ConsolesVideo by Rockstar Games on YouTube
18GTA 62023
What I looked like when GTA V came out vs now
A joke about how long fans waited between GTA V and GTA VI.
Where it's from: When Rockstar announced the date of the first GTA VI trailer on November 8, 2023, people posted a 2013 photo of themselves next to a current one.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1Video by Rockstar Games on YouTube
19GTA 42013 (revival early 2020s)
Byeah
“Byeah.”
"Byeah" is the nickname for those bikers and a catchphrase in Jerma's community and beyond.
Where it's from: Streamer Jerma985 voiced the heavyset biker NPCs in GTA IV videos with STAR_ in 2013, ending lines with "byeah". It came back as a meme in the early 2020s.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
GTA4 Multiplayer: Commence The Meeting of "The Byeahs"Video by Jerma985 on YouTube
20Vice City2002
Demolition Man (the RC helicopter mission)
Fans bring it up whenever the most annoying GTA missions are discussed. In September 2024 a $2 PS4 knock-off of the mission was pulled from the PlayStation Store, which Kotaku and GamesRadar covered.
Where it's from: The Vice City (2002) mission where Tommy flies a toy RC helicopter to plant bombs in a building under construction. Kotaku calls it one of the game's worst and most infamous missions.
Sources: kotaku.com, gamesradar.com
GTA Vice City - Walkthrough - Mission #11 - Demolition Man (HD)Video by GTA Series Videos on YouTube
21GTA 52025-2026
Franklin will eventually show up to defend his home
“Franklin will eventually show up to defend his home”
The audio is spliced into unrelated clips as brainrot humour, and it pokes fun at made-up GTA fact videos.
Where it's from: A fake GTA V "secrets" TikTok (October 30, 2025) claimed that if Trevor fires rockets at Franklin's house, Franklin will turn up to defend it. Its text-to-speech line became a meme in late December 2025.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Franklin Will Eventually Show Up To Defend His HomeVideo by Lessons in Meme Culture on YouTube
22GTA Online2017
God left
“God left.”
Posted as a reaction to trends or images people dislike, suggesting even God has left.
Where it's from: A Reddit screenshot (2017) of a GTA Online notice saying a player called "God" had left the session.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
23GTA 62023
GTA 6 trailer's real viral clips (hammer lady)
Fans matched trailer shots to real clips and joked that Rockstar barely had to make anything up about Florida.
Where it's from: GTA VI Trailer 1 (December 2023) includes in-game social media clips that PC Gamer says copy real viral Florida videos almost 1:1, such as a woman waving two hammers outside her home (a 2017 news clip).
Sources: pcgamer.com
Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1Video by Rockstar Games on YouTube
24Every GTA2005 onward
GTA cover parodies
Any topic, place or group gets turned into a fake GTA cover.
Where it's from: GTA III (2001) started the series' grid-of-panels box art. Photoshopped parodies date from at least 2005 and continue with every new game.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
25GTA 42026
IShowSpeed GTA IV edit
The clip is reposted as a hype edit, turning Speed into a GTA IV loading-screen hero.
Where it's from: A GTA IV loading screen parody made from edited pictures of streamer IShowSpeed with the GTA IV theme. It went viral on X in September 2026 and spread to TikTok.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
GTA IV loading screen but It's IShowSpeedVideo by midrya on YouTube
26GTA 52020
It is millions to one
“You have no conception of how rare that is! It is millions to one!”
Used as a caption for very unlikely bad luck, in games or real life.
Where it's from: GTA V speedrunner DarkViperAU's reaction to being killed by a very rare helicopter rocket in a 2019 run, posted to his clips channel on December 5, 2020.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
YOU HAVE NO CONCEPTION OF HOW RARE THAT IS! IT IS MILLIONS TO ONE! (GTA 5 Speedrun Fail)Video by DarkViperAU Clips on YouTube
27GTA Online2018-2022
Oppressor Mk II griefers
The bike became the symbol of GTA Online griefing, and players joke about it whenever someone gets blown up from the sky.
Where it's from: The flying, missile-firing Oppressor Mk II bike arrived in GTA Online's After Hours update in 2018. Kotaku called it the player-hated, troll-approved griefing machine; Rockstar weakened it in 2022 and later doubled its price.
Sources: kotaku.com, gamesradar.com
If the oppressor mk2 never existedVideo by Mors Mutual Insurance on YouTube
28San Andreas2019
CJ and Big Smoke mods
The joke is CJ stuck in other games' stories, still chasing his old friend.
Where it's from: Modders put CJ and Big Smoke into other games, CJ usually as the hero and Smoke as the enemy. A 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake mod with Big Smoke as the stalker Mr. X made the trend popular.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Resident Evil 2 Remake - GTA CJ Meets Big Smoke (MOD) *read desc*Video by BeastGamingHD on YouTube
29GTA 52018
Franklin and Chop
Shows one person "owning" or controlling another.
Where it's from: Official GTA V artwork of Franklin holding his rottweiler Chop on a chain, published in November 2012. From 2018 people swapped in new faces.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
30GTA 52026
Goodnight, old friend
“Goodnight, old friend.”
The line is added over freeze-frames just before Franklin crashes or causes a disaster, often with a picture of baby Po from Kung Fu Panda.
Where it's from: A real voice line Franklin says to dead NPCs in GTA V, uploaded to YouTube in 2015. TikTok edits from March 2026 turned it into a meme.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
Goodnight old friendVideo by Dr. Pops on YouTube
31GTA 52013 onward
Jimmy flipping off Tracy
Fans edit the posters and items in Jimmy's room to match their own fandom.
Where it's from: Official GTA V promo art (July 4, 2013) of Jimmy De Santa at his console giving his sister Tracy the finger.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
32San Andreas2021
Grove Street World filter
People film the Grove Street crew "arguing" in their kitchen, classroom or street.
Where it's from: A Snapchat AR filter by Nikita Treshalov (May 2021) that places four San Andreas Grove Street gang members wherever you point the camera. Videos using it took off on TikTok that month.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
How to get the Grove Street World Filter on Snapchat!Video by Digital Unraveled on YouTube
33GTA 52020
Merryweather fleet's here, bro
“Merryweather fleet's here, bro!”
Used in jokes about failure and frustration, when the enemies keep coming.
Where it's from: Trevor's line to Michael during the GTA V mission "Derailed". DarkViperAU's July 2020 Pacifist Challenge video made it a running gag.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com
MERRYWEATHER FLEETS HERE BRO! - DarkViperAUVideo by DarkViperAU Clips on YouTube
34GTA 5
You're a genius, you moron
“You're a genius, you moron!”
A reaction image for jokes about someone being clever and dumb at the same time.
Where it's from: Trevor's reply to Wade in GTA V (2013) after Wade finds Michael in the phone directory.
Sources: knowyourmeme.com

GTA 6 GIFs

Short loops from Rockstar's official trailers. Tap one to play it, then download the GIF.

HD meme templates

Rockstar's official GTA 6 screenshots at 1920×1080, ready for your own captions.

Meme histories come from Know Your Meme and the outlets linked on each meme, written in our own words. Screenshots, templates and GIFs are © Rockstar Games, from Rockstar's official trailers and screenshots. Videos play from YouTube and belong to the channels that posted them.