Anakin Skywalker memes emerge as symbol of Gen Z disillusionment

A viral trend on X, formerly Twitter, has emerged involving Anakin Skywalker memes that use scenes from the Star Wars prequel trilogy to represent the anger and alienation felt by some young men in Western society.

Known as “Anakin Skywalker Young Men Disillusionment Edits,” these memes repurpose footage of the character’s frustration with the Jedi Order and Obi-Wan Kenobi to mirror contemporary grievances. Captions often address topics such as dating, immigration, artificial intelligence, nationalism, and institutional distrust. In these edits, figures like Obi-Wan Kenobi are frequently used as metaphors for Baby Boomers or detached elites.

The trend gained significant traction in October 2026. The discourse expanded following comments from conservative commentator Matt Walsh regarding the prequel trilogy, which led some users to create memes portraying Walsh as a member of the Jedi Council.