The catchphrase "I Guess Bro" has become a staple on social media over the last several months, often paired with a GIF of actor Jonah Hill rubbing the corner of his eye.

Taken from a moment in the 2016 film War Dogs, the clip is typically used to signal frustration, disbelief or reluctant acceptance in response to something online.

By late 2025, the reaction image and GIF have become especially common in TikTok comment sections, where users began posting it as a shorthand for an exasperated “sure, I guess.”

So, where did the GIF come from, when did it go viral, and how is it used? Here's what you need to know about the "I Guess Bro" meme of Jonah Hill.

Where Does The 'I Guess Bro' Meme Come From?

The reaction image used in the “I Guess Bro” meme comes from the 2016 black comedy War Dogs, which stars actors Jonah Hill and Miles Teller as two young men who take advantage of a U.S. government program that allows small businesses to bid on military contracts.

In one scene, Hill’s character sits in a dimly lit room and scratches near the corner of his eye while looking visibly tired and frustrated, creating a brief but memorable expression that would later be repurposed online.

Clips and GIFs of the scene began appearing online years later, initially gaining traction in 2025 and spreading into early 2026.

@rimrised Jonah Hill wiping his eyes scene 😭 | Original video from War Dogs (2016) 🎬 | The meme where Jonah Hill looks done with life 😂 #JonahHill #WarDogs #JonahHillMeme #WarDogsScene #JonahHillWipingEyes #MemeOrigin #MovieMeme #WarDogsMeme #FYP #Relatable ♬ original sound – RimRised

How Is The 'I Guess Bro' Meme Used In Memes?

Social media users started pairing the image and GIF with the caption, “I guess bro,” around August 2025. The format became particularly common in TikTok comment sections, where users posted the reaction under videos as what's known as a "sticker" on the site.

As the reaction spread, it also began circulating on platforms like X / Twitter and Instagram, where the image macro and GIF format helped push the meme into wider internet use by early 2026.

Users typically post the GIF or a still image of the scene alongside the caption to react to confusing, frustrating or mildly ridiculous posts, using it to signal reluctant agreement or exhausted acceptance.

What Are Some More 'I Guess Bro' Memes?

@heroic.gaming i guess bro #gaming #gamingmemes #memes #jonahhill #iguessbro ♬ original sound – HEROIC Gaming

@craveforclairo i mean i guess bro #jonahhill ♬ original sound – 🎀lily.rants🎀

@relatable.peepz Well I guess I’ll get a j*b then 😔#jonahhill #mummemes #fyp #relatable #memestiktok ♬ Chamber of Reflection – Your Anxiety Buddy

@shteppii i guess bro #shteppi #fuckmychunguslife ♬ original sound – shteppii

Related Memes

Facepalm

An older, though very similar, meme that fulfilled the current function of the "I Guess Bro" GIF on the early internet is the classic Facepalm meme.

The slang term “facepalm” refers to the gesture of covering one’s face with a hand to express embarrassment, disbelief or frustration at someone else’s mistake.

"Facepalm" as a slang term gained a distinct life online as a reaction meme used to respond to especially baffling or ill-advised posts.

One of the most widely recognized versions of the meme comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation, specifically a scene featuring Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by actor Sir Patrick Stewart) in the 1990 episode “Deja Q.” A screenshot of Picard pressing his hand to his face circulated online throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

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For the full history of the I Guess Bro meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry more information.