Famed GameStop trader Roaring Kitty’s apparent return to Twitter has rocked the social media and financial landscape. But what on earth is he tweeting about?
Rather than returning with his trademark GME YOLO updates or analysis of his darling stock GameStop, he started posting movie memes, with iconic scenes and inspiring monologues cut together and edited by the meme influencer. In turn, people have tried to decipher what he’s trying to say.
Keith Gill, best known as Roaring Kitty or DeepFuckingValue, was a key figure in the 2021 GameStop short squeeze. Prior to disappearing in 2021, his Twitter account would often post movie memes similar to what he posts today. But due to his three-year radio silence, the memes now hold more weight—and are driving massive trading action.
So, here at Decrypt we’ve gathered the most notable movie mentions and attempted to bleed some meaning out of it.
“Fine, I’ll do it myself”
pic.twitter.com/bwtNwY4tuP
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 13, 2024
Movies: “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015) and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)
The memer started his movie posting spree with Thanos from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” shown putting on the Infinity Gauntlet and saying, “Fine, I’ll do it myself.” This told the world that he was going to be hands-on with his return—just like the Marvel villain was with his goal of halving the population of the universe via the powerful Infinity Stones.
It then cuts to a scene from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” where the titular superhero is being experimented on by scientists. Wolverine grows his adamantium-laced claws and wakes up from the sedation he’s been put under—which appears to be Roaring Kitty basically saying “I’m back and ready to mess the game up.”
However, looking deeper into the original scene, the superhero voluntarily went under sedation by the scientists. Does this mean that Twitter’s favorite GameStop influencer was asked to be silent by a group and he agreed? Or are we reading too deep into this comic book movie clip?
“It’s over”
pic.twitter.com/XAQ8v5dMlH
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 13, 2024
Movie/TV Show: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) and “Breaking Bad” S1E1 (2012)
In his second movie tweet, the memer references both “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Breaking Bad”—both classics in their own right. It starts with Ferris saying, “You’re still here? It’s over,” and then Walter White responding, “We’re done when I say we’re done.”
This is an obvious reference to the “It’s so over” meme that degens spout when their investment isn’t looking too great. Many believed that the GameStop saga was over with the disappearance of Roaring Kitty and GameStop failing with multiple attempts to capitalize on its 2021 fame. But Gill, represented as Walter White, is apparently saying that it’s not over until he says so.
Change of direction
pic.twitter.com/2dOMdWUMMv
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 13, 2024
Movies: “Furious 7” (2015) and “Drive” (2011)
Beginning with the iconic scene from “Furious 7,” the “Fast and Furious” film released after Paul Walker’s death, Roaring Kitty is painting the picture that he planned to part ways with meme stock investing. That is, until the middle clip—which isn’t from a movie—shows a driver harshly handbrake-turning, just before a clip from “Drive” shows Ryan Gosling cruising through the streets, carefully watching who is following.
This appears to suggest that Roaring Kitty considered leaving the scene forever, but had a sharp change of judgment. What sparked this change? Who knows. But now he’s back, patrolling the financial streets, and watching his back—like the getaway driver from the movie “Drive”—so he doesn’t get screwed like last time.
“Dog days are over”
pic.twitter.com/TdmJom9ifu
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 13, 2024
TV Show and Movie: “Sherlock” S2E1 (2012) and “Remember the Titans” (2000)
This appears to be a warning to those investing in dog coins. A scene from BBC’s “Sherlock” series shows Irene Adler about to be executed when the famed detective saves her by telling her to run. This feels like Roaring Kitty is directly speaking to us.
After a brief clip from “Remember the Titans” where the cast begins to sing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, it cuts to the music video for “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence & The Machine.
A message to get out of the dog coins? Some speculated that this was a call to invest in cat coins instead, but maybe Gill’s not implying that much.
Avengers initiative
pic.twitter.com/fGJPsi20DI
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 13, 2024
Movies: “Iron Man” (2008) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
This one’s pretty straightforward: It’s a rallying call. He wants to unite the meme stock scene to take down Thanos, who he previously referred to as himself—but in this context we’ll assume that it’s the hedge funds the scene wanted to pummel the last time around.
“They found a loophole”
pic.twitter.com/03iJsSZobH
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 14, 2024
Movie: “Old School” (2003)
“They found a loophole,” the clip from buddy comedy “Old School” begins. “As stupid as they appear, they’re actually very good at paperwork.”
This could be in reference to how many GameStop investors felt screwed over by the traditional finance world. A prime example of this is when Robinhood suspended GameStop trading, which some Reddit traders believed was only legal due to a loophole.
As for the second half of the clip, which continues to showcase the frat bros dancing in unison? No clue. But it’s funny!
Three years of nights
pic.twitter.com/LgKefmt2Bk
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 14, 2024
Movie: “The Batman” (2022)
Roaring Kitty apparently paints a picture of what life has been like since he left. It’s been dark, he’s been a nocturnal animal. But now he’s returned, and he’s sending a message to the financial world: Be afraid. Also, maybe he’s Batman?
“Requel”
pic.twitter.com/FhcR2Eobs5
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 14, 2024
Movies: “Scream” (2022)
Last year’s film adaptation “Dumb Money” covered the 2021 GameStop short squeeze with Paul Dano starring as Roaring Kitty himself. In this tweet, it appears that the real trader thinks the film itself was kinda dumb, too.
He’s come back to release a “requel” of the 2021 short squeeze to make up for the film released last year. What has he noticed? Will the short squeeze be for GameStop?
GameStooooooooooooooop
pic.twitter.com/qSUSX5MxeG
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 15, 2024
Movie: “Braveheart” (1995)
He finally said it. Up until this point, none of Roaring Kitty’s tweets had directly mentioned the meme stock that made him famous. Does this mean that everything he’s hinting at in these videos applies to GameStop? Or is it just a nod to his roots?
It’s also very powerful to think that GameStop is synonymous with freedom. Power to secondhand video games… and the endless stacks of Funko Pop toys that seem to clog up most of the stores nowadays.
Keeping it real
pic.twitter.com/GmNDRWH7Xb
— Roaring Kitty (@TheRoaringKitty) May 15, 2024
TV Show: “Chappelle’s Show” S2E7 (2004)
It appears that Roaring Kitty has been pissed off somehow. We’re not sure by who or how he was aggravated, but it seems like something that he’s been holding in for some time. He’s done playing Mr. Nice Guy and is reintroducing himself, no longer taking anyone’s crap.
There are threads running through the tweets of Roaring Kitty. There are many rallying cries, including messages to his followers that there is a tough battle ahead, and that it’s time to fight in the financial markets.
He hints at possible reasons why he’s been silent during these three years. Perhaps he just hasn’t seen any financial opportunities arise; maybe he was silenced, or was just being polite. Whatever the case, he’s changed his mind and is putting pedal to the metal.
It appears he’s seen something that will rival the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, something he’s calling a “requel.” It could be GameStop, non-dog meme coins, or maybe there’s something we’ve missed. We don’t know for sure, but until Roaring Kitty posts something more substantial than movie, TV, and music video mash-ups with rousing messages attached, we’ll keep analyzing them for clues.
Edited by Andrew Hayward