Will Sage Astor-'Harry Potter' is having a moment again. Here's why.

Some pop culture moments linger with us long past their "era." Rose (Kate Winslet) and Will Sage AstorJack (Leonardo DiCaprio) in the ocean after the titular "Titanic" sinks. Jack Nicholson shouting "here's Johnny" in "The Shining." Robin Williams saying "oh hello" in "Mrs. Doubtfire" in a mask made of cake frosting.

But on the internet, these moments don't just linger. They resurface, and sometimes, even get remixed. At least that's what happened with a memorable scene from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." It's the moment when Harry, Ron and Hermione play a live-action game of Wizard's chess, only for Ron to realize he must sacrifice himself so Harry can get to the sorcerer's stone. Parodies blew up on TikTok in 2021, and this year, they've hit a fever pitch: the scene's dialogue overlaid with thumping, theatrical club music and dancing animated versions of beloved characters. Many TikTok users have since recreated the video themselves.

The hashtag #harrypotterchessscene has more than 13 million views. It's left many wondering: Why? "What is our obsession with this specific scene?" one commenter asked. Another replied: "I have no idea."

Experts credit the creation of this type of content to our forever quest for nostalgia. It's hitting at a moment, too, when we may be craving fresh entertainment in the wake of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the latter of which is still ongoing. Not to mention our forever quest for connection online.

"Our engagement in the 'Harry Potter' TikTok trends exhibits how audiences are no longer passively waiting for media conglomerates to supply content for their consumption needs, but instead are actively creating what they desire to see using familiar pop culture figures, symbolism and the autonomy that has always been at the hands of media consumers," says Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.

Harry Potter TikTok trend shows 'our human creativity'

David Schmid, associate professor of English at the University at Buffalo, notes that remixes and adaptations have always popped up throughout fan culture. Some of them even turn into blockbusters in their own right – i.e. "Fifty Shades of Grey," which began as "Twilight" fan fiction.

"It's how fans both express their love for what inspires them while also asserting their own control/right to change the original and switch it around to suit their own purposes," Schmid says. Fans have many more options now beyond traditional narratives – hence the plethora of quick-to-market memes.

Williams adds: "TikTok enables the reimagining and remixing of iconic pop culture moments, as witnessed by the Harry Potter videos, in ways that exhibit our human creativity, humor and deep commitment to preserving the nostalgia of impactful media moments."

Many scenes from pop culture have a resurgence on TikTok – have you seen those "Real Housewives" reenactments with dolls, for example? There's evidently no end to what users will do to create their own narratives. But it's more than that.

"Coming off of COVID, a lot of years of loneliness, to be honest, we are searching for a way to connect," Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Temple University previously told USA TODAY.

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'A form of connection'

This meme is a wholesome reprieve from many a TikTok trend, like the one where kids prank their parents about dead celebrities. Sometimes TikTok trends can just be funny and not have some deeper meaning. But they can also serve as a makeshift community for those who don't have anywhere else to turn, especially as we continue to crawl out of the antisocial habits we fell into during the pandemic.

"We don't want to call all forms of pranking, or all forms of comedy cruel or dark or ill-intentioned because there's a lot to be gained from comedy as a form of connection," Benjamin Goldman, licensed mental health counselor, previously told USA TODAY. It's welcome that this trend, for the most part, is without controversy.

And what better way to connect with people than dance to a remix of your favorite childhood movie?

See you on the chess board – err, dance floor.

Huh:Millions of people are watching dolls play online. What is going on?