Title:
Leonardo DiCaprio Cheers
Meme Creator:
Unknown
Media Creator:
Baz Luhrmann
Meme Creation Year:
2013
Media Year:
2013
Height of Popularity:
2013
Era:
Golden Age of Memes
Platform:
Image Macro
Type:
Tags:
leonardo dicaprio, cheers, toast, meme, the great gatsby
History:
The "Leonardo DiCaprio Cheers" meme, also known as the "Great Gatsby Reaction," originates from actor Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. The iconic image shows DiCaprio raising a champagne glass in a toast, captured during an opulent party scene that epitomizes Gatsby's extravagant lifestyle.
According to Know Your Meme, the first appearance of this image was in the film's second theatrical trailer, released on December 20, 2012, approximately 43 seconds into the trailer where "Gatsby raises his glass to the camera" (Know Your Meme, 2025). While the film itself wasn't released until May 1, 2013, this trailer moment provided the source material that would later become a viral meme.
The meme gained significant traction following the film's release, particularly on Tumblr. Know Your Meme documents that on May 13, 2013, Tumblr user boosted-minkica posted a series of GIFs featuring the Gatsby toasting image (Know Your Meme, 2025). The same day proved pivotal when Tumblr user hawkeyedriza used the image to respond to a post about "repeating the past" with Gatsby's line "of course you can," followed by user catherine-is-a-lemon adding "whispers old sport." This particular post received over 1 million notes, significantly boosting the meme's popularity (Know Your Meme, 2025).
The meme's versatility became apparent as users employed it across various contexts—from genuine congratulations to ironic commentary and sarcastic responses. Its adoption into meme generators allowed for widespread customization with user-generated captions. By July 16, 2013, Meme Generator had created a dedicated template for the Gatsby toasting image, enabling broader distribution across social media platforms (Meme Generator, 2013).
The enduring appeal of the "Leonardo DiCaprio Cheers" meme lies in its adaptability and the universal recognition of both DiCaprio as an actor and the gesture of toasting as a celebratory act, making it suitable for expressing agreement, praise, or ironic acknowledgment across diverse online contexts.
Notes about the Creator/s:
Creator (Media):
Baz Luhrmann is an acclaimed Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his distinctive visual style and modern adaptations of classic works. His approach to The Great Gatsby (2013) involved bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel to contemporary audiences through vibrant cinematography, elaborate production design, and an anachronistic soundtrack featuring modern artists. Luhrmann's interpretation emphasized the excess and glamour of the Jazz Age, creating visually striking scenes like Gatsby's iconic toast that would resonate with modern internet culture.
Luhrmann's other notable works include the "Red Curtain Trilogy" (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge!), all characterized by theatrical, maximalist aesthetics that translate well to memorable, meme-worthy moments.
Creator (Meme):
The transformation of Luhrmann's cinematic moment into internet meme format was a collective effort by online communities rather than the work of a single identifiable creator. Know Your Meme notes that while specific early adopters like Tumblr users boosted-minkica and hawkeyedriza helped popularize the image, the meme's creation represents the organic, collaborative nature of internet culture where cinematic moments are repurposed for digital communication (Know Your Meme, 2025).
Notes about the years:
Media Creation Year (2013)
The Great Gatsby film was released on May 1, 2013, though the specific scene containing the toast appeared earlier in the December 20, 2012 theatrical trailer (YouTube, 2012).
Meme Creation Year (2013)
The transition from film still to internet meme occurred rapidly following the movie's release. Know Your Meme documents the first significant meme usage beginning in May 2013, with the pivotal Tumblr post receiving over 1 million notes occurring on May 13, 2013 (Know Your Meme, 2025).
Height of Popularity (2013)
The meme reached peak popularity during the summer of 2013, coinciding with the film's theatrical run and home video release. BuzzFeed's June 17, 2013 article "The Top 3 Times Leonardo DiCaprio Raised His Glass" demonstrates the meme's mainstream recognition, ranking the Gatsby scene as number two (BuzzFeed, 2013). The July 2013 addition to Meme Generator further solidified its status as a recognized internet meme format.
Sources and additional information:
BuzzFeed. (2013, June 17). The top 3 times Leonardo DiCaprio raised his glass. BuzzFeed.
Know Your Meme. (2025). Great Gatsby reaction / Leonardo DiCaprio toast. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/great-gatsby-reaction-leonardo-dicaprio-toast
Meme Generator. (2013, July 16). Great Gatsby [Template]. https://memegenerator.net/Great-Gatsby
YouTube. (2012, December 20). The Great Gatsby trailer 2 official [Video]. YouTube.