5 Reasons Why The "What Are We, Some Kind Of..." Quote Became The Internet's Favorite Meme

The phrase "What are we, some kind of..." has become one of the internet's most recognizable and endlessly adaptable memes, a piece of dialogue so infamously awkward it transcends its original context. As of late 2025, this specific line continues to be a staple of online humor, serving as a universal shorthand for forced, unnatural dialogue in blockbuster cinema, particularly in the superhero genre.

This article dives deep into the true origin of this viral phenomenon, tracing its roots to a much-maligned 2016 film and exploring how it evolved into a powerful piece of cultural commentary that highlights the pitfalls of expository writing and studio mandates in modern filmmaking. It's a fascinating case study in how bad writing can accidentally become a cultural touchstone.

The Infamous Origin: Suicide Squad (2016) and Fantastic Four (2015)

The core of the "What are we, some kind of..." meme is a direct parody of a line spoken in the 2016 DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film, Suicide Squad. The line, delivered by the character Deadshot (played by Will Smith) in a moment of dramatic realization, is:

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• "So that's it, huh? We the patsies. Some kinda suicide squad."

While the exact wording varies in different reports ("What, we some kind of Suicide Squad?" or "What, we some kinda..."), the intent is clear: to explicitly state the team's name within the dialogue. This moment was widely panned by critics and audiences alike for being clunky, on-the-nose, and a transparent effort to shoehorn the movie's title into the script. It felt less like a genuine character moment and more like a studio executive's note being fulfilled.

The Precursor: A Fantastic Flop

Interestingly, the Suicide Squad line was not the first instance of this exact trope being mocked. A similar, equally awkward line appeared in the 2015 reboot of Fantastic Four. In that film, The Thing, upon seeing his new form, allegedly says a line to the effect of:

• "What are we, some kind of Fantastic Four?"

This earlier example cemented the trope in the minds of comic book movie fans. The two films, both critically unsuccessful and featuring deeply flawed dialogue, provided the perfect one-two punch that launched the phrase into meme immortality. The Suicide Squad line simply became the more famous and quotable version, forever linking the structure to forced dialogue in superhero team-up films.

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The Evolution of the Meme: From Quote to Copypasta

The "What are we, some kind of..." phrase quickly transcended its source material to become a versatile copypasta. A copypasta is a block of text that is copied and pasted repeatedly across the internet, often with slight variations. The format is simple and highly effective:

"So that's it, huh? We some kinda [BLANK]?"

The blank space is filled with whatever the current situation, group, or context is, often with an absurd or self-referential twist. This adaptability is the key to its longevity and topical authority.

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Key Characteristics of the Meme’s Success

• Universal Applicability: It can be applied to any situation where a group of people is unexpectedly tasked with a mission, whether it's a group of friends ordering pizza or an actual fictional team.
• Self-Aware Irony: The meme is inherently ironic. It acknowledges and mocks the bad writing trope it's derived from, making the user seem self-aware and witty.
• Easy Remixing: The template is simple, allowing for quick creation of new jokes. This is a hallmark of successful internet memes.
• Commentary on Tropes: It serves as a meta-commentary on the entire genre of superhero and action films, where characters often have to state the obvious for the benefit of the audience.

The meme's popularity soared on platforms like Reddit, Twitter (now X), and Tumblr, where discussions about movie quality and writing flaws are common. It became a way for fans to vent their frustration with formulaic blockbuster scripts without having to write a full review.

Cultural Significance and LSI Entities

The enduring popularity of the "What are we, some kind of..." meme is a testament to its cultural significance as a piece of meta-humor. It’s more than just a funny quote; it represents the collective internet’s critique of poor cinematic writing.

The Trope of "Title Drop" Dialogue

The phrase directly parodies a common screenwriting device known as the "title drop," where a character says the movie's title aloud. While a title drop can be effective when done subtly and naturally—such as in The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars—it often falls flat when forced. The meme highlights the difference between organic dialogue and dialogue written purely for marketing or exposition.

The entities and concepts relevant to understanding this meme and its topical authority include:

• Superhero Movie Dialogue: The primary target of the meme.
• Expository Writing: Dialogue used to explain plot points or character names to the audience.
• Deadshot (Will Smith): The character who delivered the famous line.
• Killer Croc: Another character in the Suicide Squad team.
• Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn): A central figure in the Suicide Squad cast.
• Zack Snyder: A director often associated with the DCEU's early tone.
• Jared Leto (The Joker): Another key character in the 2016 film.
• The Thing (Ben Grimm): The character in Fantastic Four (2015) who delivered the parallel line.
• Josh Trank: The director of the 2015 Fantastic Four film.
• Copypasta: The format the meme took on the internet.
• Internet Meme Culture: The broader context of its spread and adaptation.
• DCEU (DC Extended Universe): The cinematic universe that produced the Suicide Squad film.
• Movie Tropes: The general category of common storytelling devices being mocked.
• Forced Dialogue: The specific writing flaw the meme critiques.
• Listicle Titles: The common use of the phrase to create list-based memes (e.g., "What are we, some kind of listicle?").
• Hot Tub Time Machine (2010): A film that reportedly mocked the trope years before the Suicide Squad release, demonstrating its long-standing presence in cinema.

Ultimately, the "What are we, some kind of..." quote is a powerful example of how online communities use humor to dissect and critique popular media. It’s a hilarious and enduring symbol of the internet’s ability to turn a moment of cinematic failure into a moment of collective, self-referential comedy.