10 Internet Memes And Their Cinematic Counterparts

5. Scumbag Steve

z06 Cinematic equivalent: Ed (Nick Frost) - Shaun of the Dead

A number of these memes work in dichotomous pairs. As with species in nature, as the success of one Internet Meme wanes, it must mutate and adapt to survive. The Good Guy Greg meme developed months after Scumbag Steve as its counterpoint, and renewed interest in the joke. If Good Guy Greg is the guy that€™s always lending you cigarettes, Scumbag Steve is the guy that€™s always bumming them off of you. And jerking off into your socks. The worst part is, he€™s possibly one of your closer friends. For cinema€™s Scumbag Steve, I nominate Ed from Shaun of the Dead. Now, I love Ed. You love Ed. Shaun loves Ed. We all love Ed. But, if we€™re going to be completely honest here, he is sort of a scumbag. He€™s slothful, he€™s crass, he€™s unhygienic, and he€™s unhelpful. As his best friend is being attacked by a zombie, his immediate response is to take a photo on his phone. Now, all of these qualities make him a hilarious and lovable character, and the movie is all the better for it. But I ask you, do you really want to live with this guy?
 
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