The Top Gun: Maverick as Hangman where he very nearly stole the show from his rival Rooster (Miles Teller).

Since then, Powell has been the toast of Hollywood in a way that few recent actors have achieved. With the idea of what makes a movie star changing this century, with characters and franchises overpowering the actors underneath, it's refreshing to see someone operating in a similar star strata as Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, or Matt Damon. Whether his career will end up being comparable to those greats is still a question, but he's starting on a similar track. Even the memes about him suggest his star power has gone beyond Hollywood, entering pop culture at large.

A Meme Comparing Glen Powell To A Capybara Went Viral In 2023

The Photo In The Meme Was Taken In 2016

In April 2023, X (formerly Twitter) , @koalarolls quote-tweeted a post of Glenn Powell smiling broadly at the 2016 Hidden Figures premiere (via KnowYourMeme). In the original post photo (which has since been removed), the caption reads, "Me next in line at the dispensary trying to act normal:" then a photo of Powell smiling. It's good-natured ribbing at the goofy look on Powell's face. @koalarolls' quote-tweet reads, "he looks like a capybara who made a wish to become human", and a meme was born.

The meme quickly went viral and had internet s laughing at the similarities between Powell and the largest rodent in the world. To be clear, Glen Powell doesn't look like a capybara. However, his happy, unbothered photo in the meme does share a resemblance to the unbothered look of a capybara. Powell's good nature in interviews and on red carpets also lends itself to the comparison, as capybara memes often have to do with the rodent's easy-going nature, allowing other animals to take naps on them (via KnowYourMeme).

Glen Powell Has Embraced His Capybara

Daisy Edgar-Jones Teased Him About It On Hot Ones

As if Glen Powell wasn't already a good sport, he quickly took to the capybara meme, posting his own response on X, "I only took off my pants to try and bury this photo", a reference to a modeling photoshoot he did. He spoke about it on Jimmy Fallon, saying, "This is why the internet's a great place. Like, I really kind of own the capybara thing now. I am the capybara."

During a Hot Ones Versus video, Powell and his Twisters co-star, Daisy Edgar-Jones, guessed what animal Powell would want to be. She guesses a rat, to which Powell reveals the answer is "capybara". He even does the smiling face. Later in the episode, Edgar-Jones calls Powell a "capybara son of a gun".

The Capybara Is Hardly Glen Powell's Only Viral Meme

Twisters And Top Gun: Maverick Led To Plenty Of Memes

Powell has made his rounds on the internet plenty of times, and it hasn't always been because of a South American rodent. The football scene from Top Gun: Maverick, which features the characters playing a game of beach football a la the volleyball scene in the original, sees Teller and Powell dancing around and cheering. These moments have found their own virality quickly. Twisters has also led to several memes thanks to the quotability of the movie. Glen Powell is no stranger to internet fame, but it will be hard to top the capybara meme.