About

Taika Waititi Is Riffing On a Level That Is Freaking Sublime refers to a viral behind-the-scenes video of the filming of the action-comedy movie Free Guy in which director Shawn Levy says, "Taika Waititi takes an already funny script and is riffing on a level that is freaking sublime." The video was originally uploaded to the 20th Century Studios Facebook page in late July 2021 and became the subject of memes over the following years, largely as a copypasta. In August 2025, the clip went viral on X, inspiring further memes using the quote and referencing Free Guy in general.

Origin

On July 29th, 2021, the 20th Century Studios Facebook^[1] page posted some behind-the-scenes footage of the film Free Guy. The clip starts with director Shawn Levy saying over footage of Taika Waititi acting, "Taika Waititi takes an already funny script and is riffing on a level that is freaking sublime." The video was also uploaded to their YouTube^[2] channel that day, garnering over 550,000 views in the same span of time.

On November 16th, 2021, X^[3] user @deadgomii reposted the "riffing" clip, writing, "When Taika Waititi takes an already funny script and starts riffing on a level that is fricking sublime," garnering over 490 likes in four years. This is the earliest known meme based on the clip.

Spread

On June 5th, 2024, X^[4] user @jbromovies posted, "Taika Waititi takes an already funny script and is riffing on a level that is freaking sublime," garnering over 2,500 likes in a year.

On September 25th, X^[5] user @Srirachachau posted, "The thing is that he really is riffing on a level that’s sublime," in response to a repost of Eric Adams' PSA on how to check a child's room for contraband, garnering over 1,900 likes in a year.

On August 19th, 2025, X^[6] user @JADENMOVIES shared a repost of the clip, garnering over 3,000 likes in three days. The repost inspired discourse about the clip and the movie in the following days.

For example, on August 20th, X^[7] user @thetransportcr posted, "Taika Waititi did irreparable damage to blooper reels to me. any time I see a clip of an actor trying to spitball a line, Shawn Levy is in my ear calling it freaking sublime," garnering over 3,500 likes in two days.

Later that day, X^[8] user @thelilmosquito posted, "This is the worst film ever made. There is no other way to put it. Simply, the worst film ever made," garnering over 48,000 likes in two days.

On August 21st, 2025, X^[9] user @BarrySkywalker1 posted, "This is not the worst film ever made. Watch more movies. HOWEVER, this might just be the worst behind-the-scenes promo ever made," garnering over 28,000 likes in a day.

On the same day, X^[10] user @lukeondemand_ posted, "My favorite part about this clip is Taika jumping around and hyping himself up at the beginning before riffing the three worst jokes you’ve ever heard in your entire life. It’s freaking sublime," garnering over 1,200 likes in a day.

Also on August 21st, X^[11] user @whenbatmenfly posted a clip of Taika Waititi as Ratchatcher in The Suicide Squad, writing, "Taika Waititi is riffing on a level that is frickin' sublime," garnering over 4,500 likes in a day.

That same day, X^[12] user @spherection posted the quote as a copypasta, garnering over 13,000 likes in a day.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References