The I Love The Smiths Meme: From a 2009 Elevator Scene to a 2026 AI Trend
Where the I Love The Smiths elevator meme comes from, how the 2026 TikTok remake brought it back, and the ways people remix it with friends, partners and coworkers.
Pick a scene and make your own I Love The Smiths video
Each scene is a ready-made version of this trend. Choose the one that fits you, upload one photo and get the video. No prompt, no editing.
In this article
Short answer: the I Love The Smiths meme recreates the elevator scene from the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer. One person is listening to music on headphones, the other hears it, leans in and says "I love the Smiths." In October 2026 a TikTok remake brought the scene back, and people started filming their own versions with a partner, a best friend or a coworker.
Want the video without filming it? Upload two photos and get the full elevator scene as a vertical clip of about 15 seconds, with sound. Open the I Love The Smiths AI studio →
The original scene (2009)
In (500) Days of Summer, Tom is riding the office elevator with his headphones on, playing the Smiths' "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" loud enough for others to hear. Summer, a new coworker he has barely spoken to, notices the song and tells him she loves the Smiths. A few seconds later the doors open and she walks out, leaving him stunned.
The moment works because it is tiny: a shared song, one line, and an elevator door. That is also why it copies so well.
The 2026 revival
On 21 October 2026, TikTok creator @hanan.selini posted a remake of the elevator scene. It spread quickly, and within about two weeks the format had its own name: the I Love The Smiths trend. In early November several AI tools added two-photo versions, so people could make the scene without an elevator or a second take.
How the remake goes
Most versions keep the same beats:
- Headphones on. The first person stands in the elevator, lost in their music.
- The line. The second person leans in and says "I love the Smiths."
- The repeat. No reaction, so they say it again.
- The exit. They step out, and the doors close on the first person, frozen.
Ways people remix it
- Couples: recreating "how we met," even if you actually met on an app.
- Best friends: the one with the music taste and the one who pretends to get it.
- Coworkers: the daily elevator ride with someone from another floor.
- Office crush: the most common caption, usually with a 😳.
FAQ
What movie is the I Love The Smiths meme from?
It comes from the elevator scene in (500) Days of Summer (2009).
What song is playing in the scene?
In the film, Tom is listening to "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by the Smiths.
Who started the 2026 trend?
TikTok creator @hanan.selini posted the remake on 21 October 2026, and the format spread from there.
Can I make the video from photos?
Yes. The I Love The Smiths AI studio turns two photos, one per person, into the full elevator scene with sound. Nobody needs headphones in the photo; the scene adds them. Use only photos of people who agreed.
Related
TrendSwap is an independent tool, not affiliated with the film, the band or the original creators.
I Love The Smiths
Two photos become the elevator scene: headphones, the line, the doors close.
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