What Is Main Character Energy?
Main character energy (or main character syndrome) is the mindset of treating your own life like you're the protagonist of a movie, TV show, or novel. You walk through life like there's a camera crew following you. Your commute has a soundtrack. Your coffee order is a character moment. Everything is narratively significant.
It can be used positively (confidence, self-importance, embracing your story) or negatively (narcissism, main character syndrome where you think everything revolves around you at others' expense).
Where Did It Come From?
The concept went viral on TikTok in 2020-2021, with the trend of people filming cinematic montages of themselves set to indie music, captioned "romanticize your life" or "you're the main character." The hashtag #maincharacter has billions of views.
The idea resonated during the pandemic when people needed ways to make their limited, repetitive lives feel meaningful. Walking to the grocery store became a movie scene if you had the right playlist and camera angle.
How to Use Main Character Energy
- Positive: "I'm giving main character energy today — walking into this interview like I already got the job."
- Teasing: "She really thinks she's the main character of this friend group."
- Self-care: "Main character energy is choosing yourself for once."
- Critical: "He has main character syndrome — genuinely thinks the world revolves around him."
Examples in the Wild
"main character energy is walking in the rain with your AirPods in like you're in a sad movie montage"
"some people have main character energy and some people are clearly the comic relief. I am the comic relief."
Why It Matters
Main character energy is fascinating because it reflects how deeply media and storytelling influence how we see ourselves. We literally frame our lives in narrative terms now. At its best, it's about confidence and appreciating your own story. At its worst, it's the narcissism that social media rewards. The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle.