Coincidence I Think Not

2004catchphraseclassic

Coincidence I Think Not is a catchphrase from Pixar's 2004 film The Incredibles, spoken by teacher Bernie Kropp during a classroom accusation scene. It became a reaction GIF and text macro for calling out suspicious links between two events.

Overview

Coincidence I Think Not is a catchphrase pulled from Pixar's 2004 film The Incredibles1, usually paired with a reaction GIF of teacher Bernie Kropp squinting at a video tape3. The line gets used whenever someone wants to point out a suspicious link between two events, often sarcastically.

The format is simple: list two related occurrences, then punctuate with 'Coincidence? I think not.' It works as plain text or attached to Kropp's exasperated expression from the classroom scene1. Voice actor Lou Romano's clipped delivery is part of why the audio travels well as a standalone reaction sound2.

How It Spread

The phrase started drifting outside the movie within a few years. On August 22nd, 2007, Yahoo Answers user Matt N4 asked where the quote 'Coincidence? I think not.' first came from, a sign it had already detached from its Pixar origin in casual chat.

On March 10th, 2011, YouTuber Thecommet2 posted the raw classroom clip, giving GIF makers a clean source to loop and caption. That upload passed 180,000 views by September 20143. On September 13th, 2013, Tumblr user diamondofblack5 tagged a Harry Potter post with the phrase, and that post picked up over 200 notes within a year.

The catchphrase settled into rotation as shorthand for calling out suspicious coincidences, especially in fandom threads and joke conspiracy posts3.

How to Use This Meme

The typical setup pairs two events that look connected, then closes with 'Coincidence? I think not.' It works on its own or dropped next to the Bernie Kropp reaction GIF2. Common use cases include fan theories, celebrity look-alike comparisons, and joke conspiracy threads where the link is obviously silly.

Frequently Asked Questions