December 31st hits, and your phone explodes with “new year, new me” posts. Eye roll, right? Everyone recycles the same tired jokes about resolutions and fresh starts.
But what if you could skip the cringe and share something actually funny? Something your friends will save, screenshot, and send to their group chats?
That’s where classic meme formats save the day. Drake, Distracted Boyfriend, and Grumpy Cat are these legends that never fail. They’re familiar, instantly funny, and require zero explanation.
This guide breaks down ready-to-share funny, happy New Year memes using the internet’s most famous formats.
You’ll learn why classic memes outperform new ones, see hilarious examples for every mood, and get tips for sharing them at the perfect time.
Why Classic Memes Work Best for the New Year?
Famous meme formats work better than new ones for New Year content. People recognize Drake, Distracted Boyfriend, or Grumpy Cat instantly.
This recognition makes them stop scrolling. They laugh faster because they already know the format. Classic memes also save time. You don’t need to explain the joke.
During busy holiday seasons, familiar and straightforward wins every time. New memes require extra effort to understand. People want quick laughs on New Year’s Eve, not puzzle-solving.
Best Funny Happy New Year Memes for January
January hits different when you’ve got the right memes ready. Here are the best funny happy new year memes that actually make people laugh, not cringe.
Meme #1: Drake Hotline Bling
Origin: This meme exploded in 2015 after Drake’s “Hotline Bling” music video dropped. The footage showed Drake doing awkward dance moves in a colorful room.
His hand gestures of rejection and approval became instant meme gold. People loved using it to show preferences about anything.
Meme #2: Distracted Boyfriend
Origin: This stock photo went viral in 2017. Spanish photographer Antonio Guillem shot it for a stock image site. The photo featured a man checking out another woman while his girlfriend looked angry.
Internet users saw endless possibilities for getting distracted and making bad choices.
Meme #3: This Is Fine Dog
Origin: Artist KC Green created this comic in 2013 for his webcomic series “Gunshow.” The original showed a dog sitting in a burning room saying, “This is fine.”
It became the perfect image for denying obvious problems. The meme represents how people cope with stress by ignoring it.
Meme #4: Mocking SpongeBob
Origin: This meme started trending in 2017 from a SpongeBob episode called “Little Yellow Book.” In the scene, SpongeBob acts like a chicken.
A Twitter user paired the image with mocking text. The alternating caps became the standard way to show sarcasm online.
Meme #5: Grumpy Cat
Origin: Grumpy Cat, whose real name was Tardar Sauce, became famous in 2012. Owner Tabatha Bundesen posted photos on Reddit.
The cat’s permanent frown came from feline dwarfism. Grumpy Cat became the internet’s favorite pessimist until passing away in 2019.
Meme #6: Leonardo DiCaprio Cheers (Gatsby)
Origin: This still comes from the 2013 film “The Great Gatsby” directed by Baz Luhrmann. DiCaprio played Jay Gatsby, who throws lavish parties.
The scene shows him raising a champagne glass at a party. His expression looks both celebratory and slightly smug, making it perfect for sarcastic toasts.
Meme #7: Surprised Pikachu
Origin: This meme took off in 2018 from the Pokémon anime series. The screenshot comes from a 1998 episode.
Pikachu makes a shocked expression after something obvious happens. The meme mocks people who act surprised by predictable outcomes.
Meme #8: Success Kid
Origin: This photo was taken in 2007 by Laney Griner of her son Sammy at the beach. The toddler made a fist while holding sand. His determined expression looked victorious.
The photo became a meme in 2008, representing minor accomplishments and determination.
Meme #9: Expanding Brain
Origin: This meme format started on 4chan in 2017. The original showed four images of increasingly glowing brains. Each level represented a more absurd or ironic take on a topic.
The format spread because it perfectly mocks pretentious intellectual arguments.
Meme #10: Crying Michael Jordan
Origin: This image comes from Michael Jordan’s 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech. Jordan cried while giving an emotional speech.
The photo went viral in 2012 when users started photoshopping his crying face onto everything. It became the go-to image for exaggerated sadness.
Meme #11: Woman Yelling at Cat
Origin: This 2019 meme combines two different images. The left side shows Taylor Armstrong yelling on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” in 2011.
The right shows a confused cat named Smudge at a dinner table. Someone merged them in 2019, creating an instant classic.
Meme #12: Roll Safe Think About It
Origin: This comes from a 2016 British web series called “Hood Documentary.” Actor Kayode Ewumi played a character named Roll Safe.
In one scene, he taps his temple while making a dumb suggestion. The image became shorthand for terrible advice that sounds clever.
Meme #13: Ancient Aliens Guy
Origin: This comes from Giorgio Tsoukalos on the History Channel show “Ancient Aliens” starting in 2010. Tsoukalos is famous for blaming aliens for everything.
His wild hair and intense expression became a meme for conspiracy theories. The format mocks pseudoscientific explanations.
Meme #14: Blinking White Guy
Origin: This GIF comes from a 2013 reality show called “Survivor: Cagayan.” Contestant Drew Christy blinked repeatedly during a confusing moment.
The reaction perfectly captured bewilderment. It went viral in 2017 as the go-to response for confusing situations.
Meme #15: Sad Pablo Escobar
Origin: This comes from the Netflix series “Narcos,” which aired from 2015 to 2017. Actor Wagner Moura played drug lord Pablo Escobar.
A scene showed him sitting alone on a swing se,t looking sad. The melancholy image became perfect for showing depression and waiting.
Meme #16: SpongeBob “Ight Imma Head Out”
Origin: This comes from a 2001 SpongeBob episode called “The Smoking Peanut.” SpongeBob visits Patrick and quickly decides to leave.
The scene shows him standing up with an awkward expression. It became a 2019 meme for making quick exits from uncomfortable situations.
Meme #17: Overly Attached Girlfriend
Origin: This meme started in 2012 when Laina Morris posted a YouTube video. She created a parody of Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” called “Girlfriend.”
Her wide-eyed stare and clingy lyrics went viral. She became the face of obsessive relationship behavior online.
Meme #18: Confused Math Lady
Origin: This comes from a Brazilian soap opera called “Senhoras do Destino” from 2004. Actress Renata Sorrah played Nazaré Tedesco in a confused scene.
Someone added floating math equations in 2016. It became the perfect image for trying to process confusing information.
Meme #19: Batman Slapping Robin
Origin: This comes from a 1960s Batman comic panel. The original showed Batman hitting Robin for legitimate reasons. The panel was rediscovered and went viral around 2012.
Users replaced the dialogue to show someone stopping bad ideas with force.
Meme #20: Hide the Pain Harold
Origin: András Arató became “Hide the Pain Harold” after his 2011 stock photos went viral. The retired Hungarian engineer posed for stock photography.
His smile looked forced and sad. The internet noticed around 2014 and made him the mascot for hidden suffering.
Meme #21: First World Problems
Origin: This meme started on Reddit in 2011. The image shows a woman looking distressed in soft focus. The format highlights complaints that only matter to privileged people.
It mocks trivial problems in developed countries. The meme reminds us that perspective matters.
Meme #22: Y U No Guy
Origin: This rage comic character emerged in 2010 on 4chan and Tumblr. The face was adapted from a Japanese manga called “Gantz.” The broken English became its signature style.
It represents angry demands and frustrated questions about obvious things.
Meme #23: Laughing Then Serious Kid
Origin: This comes from a 2014 interview with rapper Dwayne “Lil Terrio” Robinson Sr. His young cousin Terrio was being interviewed.
The boy laughed at a joke, then immediately turned serious. The quick mood change was captured perfectly. It went viral in 2019 for showing emotional switches.
Meme #24: Kermit the Frog Drinking Tea
Origin: This meme started in 2014 from a Lipton Tea commercial featuring Kermit. Someone added the phrase, “But that’s none of my business,” to screenshots.
The format became popular for making shady observations. Kermit’s innocent look makes the shade funnier.
Meme #25: The Office Michael Scott
Origin: This references “The Office” episode “Money” from 2007. Michael Scott yells, “I declare bankruptcy!” thinking that declaring it makes it legal.
Actor Steve Carell’s delivery became iconic. The format shows people who believe that saying things out loud equals doing them.
Meme #26: Two Buttons
Origin: This format emerged in 2017 from a stock photo. The image showed a man sweating while choosing between two buttons.
The original context was about difficult decisions. The internet adopted it for showing impossible choices and internal conflict.
Meme #27: Side Eye Chloe
Origin: This comes from a 2013 YouTube video by Katie Clem. She surprised her daughters, Lily and Chloe, with a Disneyland trip.
Lily cried with joy. Chloe gave a blank, unimpressed stare. The contrast went viral. Chloe became the face of unimpressed reactions.
Meme #28: Mr. Krabs Confused
Origin: This comes from a 2001 SpongeBob episode called “Patty Hype.” Mr. Krabs looks around, confused in a psychedelic scene.
The image became a meme in 2016. The blurred, distorted background makes it perfect for showing mental confusion and disorientation.
Meme #29: The Simpsons Homer Backing Into Bushes
Origin: This comes from a 1994 Simpsons episode called “Homer Loves Flanders.” Homer backs into hedges to avoid Flanders.
The smooth exit became a GIF in 2015. It perfectly shows sneaking away from awkward situations. The slow retreat makes it comedic gold.
Meme #30: Always Has Been (Astronaut)
Origin: This meme format exploded in 2020 during the pandemic. The original image came from a 2018 video game concept art. Two astronauts float in space, looking at Earth.
Someone added the gun and dialogue in early 2020. It became the perfect format for revealing uncomfortable truths people should have known all along.
Meme #31: Leonardo DiCaprio Pointing (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Origin: This comes from the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” DiCaprio played actor Rick Dalton watching himself on TV. He points at the screen with a drink and a cigarette.
The scene went viral immediately. It became the go-to image for recognition and nostalgia.
How to Share Funny Happy New Year Memes
Share your funny, happy New Year memes strategically to get more laughs and reactions. The right platform and timing make all the difference. Choose where and when you post based on your audience and goals.
- Best platforms for meme sharing: Instagram and Twitter work best for public shares, while WhatsApp and Facebook suit friends and family groups.
- Timing posts around New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Post memes between 8 PM on December 31st and 2 PM on January 1st when people are most active and scrolling.
- Group chats vs public posts: Use relatable, safe humor for public posts to reach broader audiences, and save inside jokes or edgier content for private group chats with close friends.
Final Take
Funny happy new year memes make January 1st less stressful and more laughable.
Classic formats like Drake, Grumpy Cat, and Distracted Boyfriend work because everyone already knows them. No explanations needed. Just instant laughs.
The new year doesn’t magically fix our problems. It doesn’t turn us into different people overnight. These memes remind us that honesty beats fake optimism every time. Share them with friends who need a reality check or a good laugh.
Ready to spread some absolute New Year joy? Pick your favorite meme from this list and send it to someone who promised to “be a new person” this January.
Let us know in the comments which meme made you laugh the hardest!
