Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Director:

Jared Hess

Writers:

Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess

Stars:

Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries

10 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Heder	...	Napoleon Dynamite
Jon Gries	...	Uncle Rico
Aaron Ruell	...	Kip
Efren Ramirez	...	Pedro
Diedrich Bader	...	Rex
Tina Majorino	...	Deb
Sandy Martin	...	Grandma
Haylie Duff	...	Summer Wheatly
Trevor Snarr	...	Don
Shondrella Avery	...	Lafawnduh
Bracken Johnson	...	Randy
Carmen Brady	...	Starla
Ellen Dubin	...	Ilene
J.C. Cunningham	...	Jock #1
Jimmy Stevens	...	Jock #2 (as James Smooth)

Storyline

Preston, Idaho's most curious resident, Napoleon Dynamite, lives with his grandma and his 32-year-old brother (who cruises chat rooms for ladies) and works to help his best friend, Pedro, snatch the Student Body President title from mean teen Summer Wheatley.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | family relationships | tater tots | two word title | stuck in the past | 

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Taglines:

He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bus otoko

Filming Locations:

Sykesville, Pennsylvania, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures,Paramount Pictures,MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 92 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jon Heder helped to make the boondoggle keychains between scenes.

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Goofs

While talking with Napoleon at the lunch table, Pedro's arm is alternately at the top/bottom of the table.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Kid on Bus: What are you gonna do today, Napoleon?
Napoleon Dynamite: Whatever I feel like I wanna do. Gosh!

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Crazy Credits

All the items, food or otherwise, used in the credits appear at some point in the movie, e.g. Napoleon's chap-stick, Uncle Rico's steak, etc.

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Alternate Versions

For wide release and all showings after the limited release, a scene was filmed featuring an additional five-minutes after the credits.

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Connections

Spoofed in Robot Chicken: The Black Cherry (2005)

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Soundtracks

We're Going to be Friends
Written by Jack White
Performed by The White Stripes
Courtesy of Third Man Records/V2 Records/XL Recordings

User Reviews

nothing else like it

This is by far one of the best movies I have ever seen. I had to drive 2 hours and pay $10 just to see it, but it was all worth it. The material in this movie was fresh, creative, original, and kept you laughing the whole time. You won't find another movie quite like it.

If you're still curious about it, there were only 40 or less people in the theater when I saw it, but if you were sitting in the front like I was you'd think that the theater was packed because of the crowd response. I've read some reviews that this movie doesn't go anywhere, but they're all full of crap. It does go somewhere, and ends strong. You have to give it to the director Jered Hess. No one makes their first movie this good. And all the actors (most of them having hardly any acting experience on film) did an incredible job. You can't top a movie like this. You'll regret it if you don't see Napoleon Dynamite