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Napoleon Dynamite

  • 20042004
  • PGPG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
215K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
940
378
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tina Majorino, Haylie Duff, Efren Ramirez, Aaron Ruell, and Jon Heder in 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.
Play trailer1:15
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
215K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
940
378
  • Director
    • Jared Hess
  • Writers
    • Jared Hess
    • Jerusha Hess
  • Stars
    • Jon Heder
    • Efren Ramirez
    • Jon Gries
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jared Hess
  • Writers
    • Jared Hess
    • Jerusha Hess
  • Stars
    • Jon Heder
    • Efren Ramirez
    • Jon Gries
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.6KUser reviews
    • 210Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 23 nominations

    Videos3

    Napoleon Dynamite
    Trailer 1:15
    Napoleon Dynamite
    Napoleon Dynamite
    Trailer 0:34
    Napoleon Dynamite
    The Evolution of Nerds
    Video 3:44
    The Evolution of Nerds

    Photos115

    Still of Trevor Snarr and Haylie Duff in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Aaron Ruell and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Tina Majorino and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Haylie Duff and Emily Kennard Dunn in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Efren Ramirez and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Aaron Ruell and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Tina Majorino and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Efren Ramirez and Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
    Jared Hess in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jon Heder
    Jon Heder
    • Napoleon Dynamiteas Napoleon Dynamite
    Efren Ramirez
    Efren Ramirez
    • Pedroas Pedro
    Jon Gries
    Jon Gries
    • Uncle Ricoas Uncle Rico
    Aaron Ruell
    Aaron Ruell
    • Kipas Kip
    Diedrich Bader
    Diedrich Bader
    • Rexas Rex
    Tina Majorino
    Tina Majorino
    • Debas Deb
    Sandy Martin
    Sandy Martin
    • Grandmaas Grandma
    Haylie Duff
    Haylie Duff
    • Summer Wheatlyas Summer Wheatly
    Trevor Snarr
    Trevor Snarr
    • Donas Don
    Shondrella Avery
    Shondrella Avery
    • Lafawnduhas Lafawnduh
    Bracken Johnson
    • Randyas Randy
    Carmen Brady
    • Starlaas Starla
    Ellen Dubin
    Ellen Dubin
    • Ileneas Ilene
    J.C. Cunningham
    • Jock #1as Jock #1
    Jimmy Stevens
    • Jock #2as Jock #2
    • (as James Smooth)
    Brian Petersen
    • Lanceas Lance
    Brett Taylor
    • Nathanas Nathan
    Thomas Lefler
    • Principal Svadeanas Principal Svadean
    • (as Tom Lefler)
    • Director
      • Jared Hess
    • Writers
      • Jared Hess
      • Jerusha Hess
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jon Heder drew all of the drawings in the movie except the unicorn.
    • Goofs
      When Napoleon is waiting in the van for Uncle Rico to take him to the dance, he looks at his watch. The time and date displayed is 5:40 p.m., Thursday 7/17. (They may have forgotten to change the date on the watch -- how many school dances are in July?) After he starts running down the road, he stops to look at his watch and the time and date says 5:54 p.m., Monday, 7/21.
    • Quotes

      Napoleon Dynamite: [Feeding the llama scoops of casserole over the fence] Tina, you fat lard, come get some DINNER!... Tina, eat. Food. Eat the FOOD!

    • 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.
    • Alternate versions
      For wide releases and all showings after the limited one, a scene was filmed featuring an additional five-minutes after the credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Stepford Wives/Garfield: The Movie/The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
    • 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 reviews1.6K

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Napoleon Dynamite mayn't be to everybody's tastes, but personally I liked it
    Napoleon Dynamite by all means is not a five-star masterpiece, and it mayn't be to everybody's tastes but I was surprised at how much I liked it, even with its problems. I can also say I do think there are much worse movies out there- Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, Home Alone 4, Cat in the Hat and Superbabies:Baby Geniuses 2 are much worse than this film.

    What I did like about Napoleon Dynamite was that it was unique, funny, quirky and original. Where it is not quite so good is in the episodic story structure and some of the supporting characters particularly comic-book-geek older brother and the ageing jock uncle were disappointingly one-dimensional and could have been further explored in terms of depth.

    Napoleon Dynamite does have a refreshingly distinctive time-warp look that recalls the style-challenged 1980s though, and that was refreshing in itself. The soundtrack is nice and nostalgic, and there are some genuinely laugh-out-loud funny moments. Also the ending is suitably uplifting and the limited horizons of young people in small-town America is nicely conveyed. The script is good and the direction is pretty solid.

    As are the performances. Jon Heder is delightfully eccentric in the title role, and he is really entertaining throughout, whether it is in the voice, the facial expressions or his character's actions. Napoleon is a blank-faced teen with carrot-coloured hair and seriously underdeveloped interpersonal skills, and here he tries to help his nerd of a best friend Pedro, amusingly played by Efren Ramirez. In terms of other supporting performances, Aaron Ruell also does a good job as Kip and while his role wasn't as well-sketched as it could have been, Jonathan Gries does nicely as Uncle Rico.

    Overall, not perfect, but amusing, quirky and unique. 7/10 Bethany Cox
    helpful•10
    2
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • May 16, 2010

    FAQ1

    • Filming dates:

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Napoleon Dynamite: Cuộc Sống Mới
    • Filming locations
      • Preston, Idaho, USA
    • Production companies
      • Fox Searchlight Pictures
      • Paramount Pictures
      • MTV Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $44,540,956
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $116,666
      • Jun 13, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $46,138,887
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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