Nicolas Cage’s National Treasure goes viral after users compare it to the Capitol Hill insurrection

Wednesday was marked by a mob of pro-Trump supporters breaking through a police barricade to storm the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

But Twitter users trying to make sense of the Capitol’s lax security were reminded of Nicolas Cage’s 2004 film National Treasure.

The action–adventure movie and its 2007 sequel became fodder for memes and jokes about how easy it would be to break into the meeting place of the United States Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government.

National Treasure features a plot line in which Cage’s character is determined to steal the Declaration Of Independence, as it has a treasure map hidden on the back (though not in real life).

Social media users started pointing out how difficult it was to steal the document in the film, compared to how easy it was for armed rioters to breach the Capitol Building’s defenses. 

One Twitter user joked that the riots could provide the ‘Best premise for National Treasure 3.’ 

They also shared a meme with a still of Cage from the first film saying, ‘I’m going to steal the Declaration Of Independence.’

The meme added the text: ‘When you notice that all the cops in Washington DC are distracted by rioters.’  

Now’s the their chance: One person shared a National Treasure meme and joked that the best time to steal the Declaration of Independence was while police were occupied

Movie magic: National Treasure features a plot line in which Cage’s character tries to steal the Declaration of Independence, as it has a (fictional) treasure map hidden on the back

Others joked that the lengths Cage’s character went to steal the document from the National Archives weren’t believable anymore.

‘I am no longer impressed that Nicholas Cage managed to steal the Declaration of Independence,’ joked Adam Herman on Twitter.

Another user wrote that, ‘Now is the perfect time to steal the declaration of independence [sic].’

‘STEAL THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IT HAS A MAP,’ wrote another user.

‘Starting to think it’d actually be incredibly easy to steal the declaration of independence,’ chimed in another person. 

Not buying it: Others joked that the lengths Cage’s character went to steal the document from the National Archives weren’t believable anymore

‘Perfect time’: Another user wrote that, ‘now is the perfect time to steal the declaration of independence [sic]’

Having a laugh: Another person referenced the fictional map from the movie

Walking right in: Other joked about the ease of stealing major historical artifacts

One person enthused about a third film in the series.

‘Oh Sweet, they finally starting filming National Treasure 3!!’ they wrote to caption a photo of the pro-Trump mob while adding the hashtag, ‘#AssaultOnDemocracy.’

‘Suddenly the security violations in National Treasure seem less like a Disney movie and more like a Wednesday,’ mused one user.

Closer look: One person enthused about a third film in the series by photoshopping Cage in with the rioters

Life imitates art: Another person wrote the ‘security violations’ in the film no longer seemed outrageous in view of Wednesday’s news

Others joked about Cage as if he was his film character.

‘this is probably the best time for Nicolas cage to steal the Declaration of Independence [sic],’ one person joked.

Actor Devon Sawa wrote: ‘Nicolas Cage spent an entire hundred million dollar movie trying to steal the declaration of independence and yet a bunch of mega a**holes were able to walk right in that place. This is why I have trust issues with Hollywood.’

‘Thinking about how much Nicolas Cage had to go through in National Treasure to break into the federal buildings and then how easy it was today,’ one Tweet read. 

Another user poked fun at some attempts to downplay the potential crimes the insurrectionists might have committed.

‘It’s a big misunderstanding. They were all just doing National Treasure.’ 

Leading man: Others joked about Cage as if he was his film character. ‘this is probably the best time for Nicolas cage to steal the Declaration of Independence [sic],’ one person tweeted

Too much work: One user wrote that Cage had a much harder time trying to break into the National Archive

Nothing to see here: Others joked that the rioters were ‘all just doing National Treasure’