Apes Together Strong — Primary reference image of chimp from Planet of the Apes with catchphrase.

Apes Together Strong

2011Reaction image macro / catchphraseclassic

Published March 10, 2026 · Updated March 18, 2026

Also known as: Ape Together Strong · Apes Alone Weak Apes Together Strong · Strong Together

"Apes Together Strong" is a reaction image macro and catchphrase originating from the 2011 film *Rise of the Planet of the Apes*, where the character Caesar communicates the phrase through American Sign Language. The screenshot of this moment became a popular meme format on Reddit in 2019, used to express solidarity among groups, and later gained a massive second life during the 2021 GameStop/WallStreetBets stock market saga.

planet of the apes memes image macro memes catchphrase memes wallstreetbets memes movie quote memes

Overview

The meme uses a screenshot from *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* showing Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee played through motion capture by Andy Serkis, signing to another ape2. The full quote is "Apes alone weak. Apes together strong," which Caesar communicates using American Sign Language to Maurice, a former circus orangutan3. The image works as a reaction macro applied to any situation where collective effort or group solidarity produces results that individuals couldn't achieve alone1.

Origin & Background

Platform
YouTube (clip), Reddit (meme format)
Key People
Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, Andy Serkis, handsan36
Date
2011 (film), 2019 (meme format)

*Rise of the Planet of the Apes* hit theaters in the United States on August 5, 20112. Directed by Rupert Wyatt with a screenplay by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, the film stars Andy Serkis as Caesar, a chimpanzee whose intelligence is boosted by an experimental Alzheimer's drug2. In a pivotal scene, Caesar explains his philosophy of unity to Maurice (portrayed by Karin Konoval) through sign language: "Apes alone weak. Apes together strong"3.

The film was a commercial hit, pulling in over $481 million worldwide against a $93 million budget2. Three years after the film's release, YouTuber ArabRebel uploaded a clip of the specific scene, which collected more than 86,000 views over the following six years3.

How It Spread

The jump from movie quote to meme format happened on June 16, 2019, when Reddit user handsan36 posted a screenshot of Caesar's line with the caption "When the dumbest ones in the class are in a group"3. The post picked up over 7,000 upvotes at 99% approval3. Days later, Redditor frosty_b0i followed with a variation that earned more than 1,000 points3.

The format picked up real momentum later that year. On November 30, 2019, Redditor George2110 posted a version pairing the Caesar image with a photograph of women wearing anti-vaccination shirts3. That post exploded to over 65,000 upvotes with 885 comments in under a month3.

The meme's biggest cultural moment came during the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze, when members of Reddit's r/WallStreetBets adopted "Apes Together Strong" as a rallying cry. The subreddit's users began calling themselves "apes," and the phrase became shorthand for retail investors banding together against institutional short sellers. This usage pushed the phrase far beyond meme communities and into mainstream financial media.

Platforms

RedditTwitterDiscordTikTokYouTube

Timeline

2021

Phrase gains prominence during GameStop surge

2021

Peak usage as stock movement continues

2022

Popularity begins to decline as movement cools

2023-01-01

Apes Together Strong reached mainstream popularity and media coverage

2024-01-01

Brands and companies started using Apes Together Strong in marketing

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The format typically works in two ways:

1

Image macro style: Take the screenshot of Caesar signing, then add a caption describing a situation where a group of unlikely allies bands together. The humor usually comes from the group being unexpected or the cause being trivial ("When all the C students form a study group").

2

Text-only catchphrase: Simply drop "Apes together strong" as a comment or reply when someone describes collective action or group solidarity. This version is common in financial subreddits and crypto communities.

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

The WallStreetBets adoption of "Apes Together Strong" during the 2021 GameStop saga turned a mid-tier Reddit meme into a widely recognized cultural phrase. Retail investors on the subreddit embraced the "ape" identity wholesale, using the phrase on merchandise, social media bios, and protest signs outside financial institutions. The term "ape" became standard slang in retail investing and cryptocurrency communities, with "aping in" meaning to invest aggressively based on community hype rather than traditional analysis.

Urban Dictionary's top definitions reflect this dual life, defining the phrase as meaning "when they are together they are stronger"1. The simplicity of the concept, collective strength through unity, gave it wide applicability across contexts from gaming clans to political movements.

Fun Facts

Andy Serkis performed Caesar entirely through motion capture technology created by Weta Digital, the same company behind Gollum in *Lord of the Rings*2.

The full quote is actually two sentences ("Apes alone weak. Apes together strong"), but most meme uses shorten it to just the second half3.

*Rise of the Planet of the Apes* was a reboot that launched three sequels, with *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes* arriving in 20242.

The meme took eight years to go from film release (2011) to viral meme format (2019), making it one of the longer incubation periods for a movie quote meme3.

Derivatives & Variations

Apes and bananas memes

A variation of Apes Together Strong

(2021)

HODL (hold) combined with apes strong

A variation of Apes Together Strong

(2021)

Investment-focused meme variations

A variation of Apes Together Strong

(2021)

Frequently Asked Questions