20 Epic Handshake Memes For Groups Finding Common Ground

The Predator Handshake Meme: Origins and Object-Labeling Trends

The Epic Handshake, or Predator Handshake, is a popular internet meme derived from the 1987 action film Predator. It features characters Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Dillon (Carl Weathers) greeting each other with a high-tension mid-air clasp. While the film scene has been a pop culture staple for decades, its transition into a dominant "object-labeling" format occurred in the late 2010s.

Timeline and Digital Evolution

1987 - 2000s: The original scene became a cult favorite for its hyper-masculine aesthetic.
2007: Early parodies appeared on YouTube, often remixing the audio with 80s synth-pop.
2012: Artist Rory Dean painted a watercolor version of the handshake. This specific illustration removed the cinematic background, providing the clean visual foundation for modern edits.
2018: According to Know Your Meme and tracking on Reddit's r/MemeEconomy, the Dean painting became a viral object-labeling template. Users began adding text to the left arm, right arm, and the center clasp to signify shared interests.

Practical Use Cases and Formatting

The template is used to visualize a convergence of interests between two seemingly unrelated parties.

Universal Agreements: Identifying common ground between different demographics (e.g., "History Buffs" and "Gamers" agreeing on "The Roman Empire").
Product/Brand Synergy: Showing how two different industries might target the same consumer habit.
Irony and Satire: Highlighting absurd or controversial shared traits between opposing groups.

Comparative Taxonomy

To select the right template, compare it with these related memes:

The Office Handshake: Represents unearned praise or awkwardness. Unlike the Predator version’s mutual respect, this depicts one party who is visibly confused.
Spider-Man Pointing: Highlights identity confusion or hypocrisy between identical entities, rather than agreement between different ones.