Gru's Plan

Gru's Plan is a four-panel exploitable meme template featuring the supervillain Gru from the 2010 animated film Despicable Me presenting a plan on a flip chart[1]. The format broke out on Reddit in March 2018 after u/FieldMarshalSixDans posted a screencap version to r/deepfriedmemes[2]. The joke structure follows Gru through three steps of a plan, where the third panel reveals an unintended or absurd conclusion, and the fourth panel shows Gru looking back at his own board in confusion.

Origin

Despicable Me hit theaters on July 9, 2010[2]. The presentation scene became the raw material for the meme nearly eight years later. On March 9, 2018, Reddit user FieldMarshalSixDans posted a four-panel version using screencaps from the scene to r/deepfriedmemes[1]. That same day, u/dankbob_memepants_ cross-posted it to r/memeeconomy, where it picked up over 18,000 upvotes and 250 comments within 24 hours[1].

• Platform: Reddit (r/deepfriedmemes, r/memeeconomy)
• Creator: u/FieldMarshalSixDans (original post), u/dankbob_memepants_ (viral spread)
• Date: 2018

Overview

The meme uses four screenshots from Despicable Me, a film produced by Illumination Entertainment in which Steve Carell voices Gru, a supervillain who hatches a scheme to steal the moon[2]. In the original movie scene, Gru presents his plan via a flip chart to a man on a television screen and discovers someone has hidden a drawing of him sitting on the toilet among his presentation pages[1].

The meme format works by letting the creator fill in each of the three presentation panels with text. The first two panels set up a logical, sensible plan. The third panel breaks the logic with something absurd, self-defeating, or unexpectedly honest. The fourth panel, where Gru turns around and stares at the board with a confused or horrified expression, sells the punchline. The template's appeal lies in that moment of dawning realization: Gru is surprised by his own terrible plan.

How It Spread

The format spread fast across Reddit's meme ecosystem. On March 11, 2018, user very_niceu uploaded a Nazi-themed parody to r/dankmemes that pulled in upwards of 21,000 upvotes within a day[1]. The same day, charizard77 posted a daylight savings time version to r/memes that collected over 4,600 upvotes, while 4k60fpsHDR posted an education system edit to the same subreddit that gathered more than 6,000 upvotes[1].

By March 12, the template was already spawning meta-humor. A Droste effect version, where the meme recursively contained itself, appeared on r/MemeEconomy[1]. That same day, Redditor Pawaaar- posted an animated GIF version to r/me_irl that blew up with over 32,000 votes and 230 comments in just six hours[1].

The meme got a mainstream signal boost on March 14, 2018 when PewDiePie featured Gru's Plan in episode 12 of his Meme Review series alongside other trending formats like "Peter Hurts His Knee"[1]. The video pulled millions of views in its first day.

How to Use

The Gru's Plan template follows a simple four-panel structure. The first two panels show Gru pointing confidently at his presentation board, each containing a step of a plan that makes sense. The third panel is where the twist lands: a step that contradicts the plan, reveals a flaw, or says something absurd. The fourth panel shows Gru turning back to look at his board with a bewildered expression, as if he didn't write that himself.

Common uses include:

• Plans that start logical but end in self-sabotage ("Step 1: Study for the exam. Step 2: Open the textbook. Step 3: Watch YouTube for 6 hours. Step 4: confused Gru")
• Ironic life decisions where the bad outcome is the point
• Political or social commentary where the third panel exposes a contradiction

The format typically works best when the third panel's absurdity catches you off guard but feels inevitable in hindsight. Blank templates are widely available on meme generator sites.

Cultural Impact

Gru's Plan became one of the defining presentation-style meme templates of 2018 and helped establish the broader category of "plan goes wrong" formats. The meme drew from a then eight-year-old movie, showing how animated films can generate meme templates long after their theatrical run[2]. PewDiePie's coverage on Meme Review pushed the format beyond Reddit's meme subreddits into YouTube's broader audience[1].

The template's versatility made it popular across different online communities. Its straightforward structure, where creators only need to fill in three text fields to make a joke, lowered the barrier for participation. The format also contributed to a wave of multi-panel exploitable memes that dominated Reddit in early 2018.

Fun Facts

• The original movie scene that inspired the meme involves Gru discovering a crude drawing of himself on the toilet hidden in his presentation, not an actual plan gone wrong[1].
• The meme went from first post to PewDiePie coverage in just five days (March 9-14, 2018)[1].
• The GIF version by Pawaaar- hit 32,000 votes in six hours, making it one of the fastest-growing posts on r/me_irl during that period[1].
• Despicable Me was the first feature film produced by Illumination Entertainment, the studio that later created the Minions franchise[2].

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gru's Plan?

Gru's Plan is a four-panel exploitable meme template using screenshots of the character Gru from Despicable Me presenting a plan on a flip chart, where the third panel reveals an absurd or self-defeating step[1].

Where did Gru's Plan come from?

The meme originated on Reddit on March 9, 2018, when u/FieldMarshalSixDans posted the four-panel format to r/deepfriedmemes[1].

What does Gru's Plan mean?

The format expresses the idea of having a plan that sounds good at first but contains an obvious flaw. The fourth panel, where Gru looks confused at his own board, represents the moment of realizing something went wrong[1].

How do you use Gru's Plan?

Fill in three panels with steps of a "plan." The first two should make sense, and the third should be absurd, contradictory, or self-defeating. The fourth panel is always Gru's confused reaction[1].

Is Gru's Plan still popular?

The format peaked in March 2018 but is still widely recognized and occasionally used. It's considered a classic meme template in the presentation/plan format category[1].

Who made the Gru's Plan meme go viral?

Reddit user u/dankbob_memepants_ cross-posted the format to r/memeeconomy on March 9, 2018, where it earned over 18,000 upvotes in 24 hours[1].

Did PewDiePie cover Gru's Plan?

Yes. PewDiePie featured Gru's Plan in episode 12 of his Meme Review series on March 14, 2018, just five days after the format first appeared[1].

What movie is the Gru's Plan meme from?

The screenshots come from the 2010 Illumination Entertainment film Despicable Me, directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, with Steve Carell voicing Gru[2].

What happens in the original movie scene?

In the film, Gru presents his plan to steal the moon via a video call and discovers a hidden drawing of himself sitting on the toilet among his presentation pages[1].

What subreddit started Gru's Plan?

The meme was first posted to r/deepfriedmemes on March 9, 2018, then cross-posted to r/memeeconomy the same day, where it gained major traction[1].