Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

71% of critics liked it
(167 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(718,809 ratings)

The directorial debut of filmmaker Jared Hess, who also co-wrote the screenplay, Napoleon Dynamite is a quirky, offbeat comedy set in the small Idaho town of Preston. Jon Heder stars in the titular role, a carrot-topped oddball with a decidedly eccentric family that includes his llama-loving,… More The directorial debut of filmmaker Jared Hess, who also co-wrote the screenplay, Napoleon Dynamite is a quirky, offbeat comedy set in the small Idaho town of Preston. Jon Heder stars in the titular role, a carrot-topped oddball with a decidedly eccentric family that includes his llama-loving, dune-buggy enthusiast grandmother. The story centers on the local high school's race for class president. Using some nontraditional means, Napoleon is determined to help his pal Pedro (Efrem Ramirez) run a winning campaign and defeat popular girl Summer (Haylie Duff). Also starring The Drew Carey Show's Diedrich Bader, Napoleon Dynamite premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Jared Hess
Written By: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 11, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Dec 21, 2004
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
For most of its length this delivers a steady stream of uncomfortable gut laughs.
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
Napoleon Dynamite may be forcefully weird and intermittently humorous, and you might not know what the heck to make of it, but there's nothing shocking about its screenplay.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The funniest film of the summer.
Tom Long, Detroit News
An independent take on a Hollywood tradition, undermined by its cliches but saved by its performances.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
May be the most condescending comedy ever to imagine itself being too cool for the room.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Has more belly laughs than 10 studio-produced, star-vehicle comedies.
, Film4
For all its charm and its impeccable leads, Napoleon Dynamite is a modish exercise in anti-cool. Still, a strong debut for all its young talents.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
One-of-a-kind high school comedy for the family.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
Napoleon's climactic spaz-out dance is more than just a goofy gag. It's a payoff to a great buddy-system comedy and the idea that it's not high school's dreams and regrets that last, but the sometimes-bizarre friendships.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
too odd to dismiss and often truly funny
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Just incredibly mind-numbing and unfunny...
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Napoleon Dynamite may not even be friggin' sweet, but it does have skills. [Blu-ray]
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
The characters are all weird and nothing much happens in Napoleon Dynamite, yet this droll and understated geek-comedy zings with truth.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Heder seems perversely bored, unable to hold his eyes open; was that a conscious acting choice, or was he simply reading his lines off the floor?
Joe Lozito, Big Picture Big Sound
Writer-director Jared Hess tries for John Hughes by way of the Coen Brothers, but only comes up with one dull, unfunny non-sequitur after another.
Mary Lasse, Christianity Today
If you have an indie film sense of humor -- and those of you who have it know what I mean -- you'll probably enjoy this flick.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
It's a cast of brilliant caricatures, and as such recalls the films of Wes Anderson.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Seething with teen-angst irritability and an obstinate blind ignorance to just how much of an outcast he is, Napoleon Dynamite may be the biggest dork in the history of high school movies.
, Empire Magazine
As long as you don't mind making fun of the afflicted, there are some killer comic moments.
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
Delights in deadpan %u2013 celebrates nerd. And is a testament that beauty can be found everywhere. A charming, albeit quite odd cinematic piece. Harold and Maude -lite.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Joseph M

Quirky, Weird, Off beat Comedy set in a small rural town in America. The cult classic may not be everyone's cup of tea and at times can be painfully unfunny but it could possibly win you over with the best dance scene I've ever seen in a film..
Directors C

By no means perfect but not without it's charm. It's a very weird indie comedy that deserves it's cult status and doesn't beg the audience for laughs or resort to using gross humour. It's consistent enough with the comedy enough but Jon Heder's remarkable… More
By no means perfect but not without it's charm. It's a very weird indie comedy that deserves it's cult status and doesn't beg the audience for laughs or resort to using gross humour. It's consistent enough with the comedy enough but Jon Heder's remarkable performance is what's pretty entertaining.
Jameson W

One of those "so bad it's good" movies. Whether you like it or not, this movie has become a cult classic comedy. Unfortunately it also launched the career of Jon Heder.
Eric A

Still to this day, it boggles my mind how people think this film is good or funny. To see this film receive moderately good reviews disappoints me. I felt the whole lead-up and aftermath of this film was complete hype and stupidity. As you can tell I have nothing nice to say so I am… More
Still to this day, it boggles my mind how people think this film is good or funny. To see this film receive moderately good reviews disappoints me. I felt the whole lead-up and aftermath of this film was complete hype and stupidity. As you can tell I have nothing nice to say so I am just going to stop right here.
Scott G

I just couldn't see what everyone found so funny about it, it doesn't take a brainiac to figure out it's slacky, dull and very boring.
Bethany M

I just didn't relate to the humour in this. It bored me after half an hour and I was finding myself ready to switch it off. I eventually did end up watching it all and I only laughed at one or two scenes. Nothing particularly exciting (I know this is the whole point of the film -… More
I just didn't relate to the humour in this. It bored me after half an hour and I was finding myself ready to switch it off. I eventually did end up watching it all and I only laughed at one or two scenes. Nothing particularly exciting (I know this is the whole point of the film - as his life is 'crappy') but you're always going to need something exhilirating to keep the audience entertained. This film just didn't do anything for me, wouldn't reccomend it and it really doesn't live up to it's hype.
Brad W

Napoleon Dynamite is a cult clasdic, and one of my favorite comedies. There is no story or plot of any kind, but it just never seems to be boring. The cast is incredible, Jon Heders iconic performance is great. This movie is one of my favorite comedies, I completely loved it.
Jeff "

Napoleon Dynamite is probably the most eccentric, bizarre comedy film that I've seen. What's great about this film is that it such a simple idea, yet the filmmakers manage to pull off something pretty good on screen. Sure there isn't anything phenomenal about the film,… More
Napoleon Dynamite is probably the most eccentric, bizarre comedy film that I've seen. What's great about this film is that it such a simple idea, yet the filmmakers manage to pull off something pretty good on screen. Sure there isn't anything phenomenal about the film, and no it's not the best comedy ever, but it's a lot of fun. The film is pretty funny, and the characters are zany and all. I liked some of the ideas thrown in the film. The time machine scene made laugh very hard, and another when Napoleon goes to pick up his date you see the low rider in the background and the girl's dad looks bewildered. This film isn't for everyone as the humor is quite bizarre and pretty weird. Napoleon Dynamite is a fun comedy that that has plenty of laughs mostly because of the idiocy of the characters, but that's the whole point of the film. This is not a film to take seriously whatsoever. This isn't a perfect comedy by any means, but it definitely is very entertaining, and fun. At times the film is slow, but it also keeps moving on nicely. The film is to the point and like I said, it's pretty weird and different. The film brings on good laughs, but it's a bit overrated too. I liked the premise of the film, and thought for a low budget film, it was pretty good, but it's far from a great comedy. The film is at least worth seeing at least once.
Cassie H

So stupid it's funny!!!!!!!! I love it :)
Stuart B

A brilliant tale of what life must be like being a geek. One of my favourite movies of all time and one I can watch over and over again. Vote for Pedro!
Coxxie M

i love that on the recommendation list for this movie theres Saw 2. like i guess that means the guys at flixster want to vomit an equal amount if theyre watching Saw or Napolean Dynamite.
Conner R

No one can say they didn't laugh during this, it just got too popular for its own good. The movie thrives on being so incredibly dumb that it becomes funny. The sense of style is its strongest suit, with such a low budget it's pretty incredible. While this isn't a… More
No one can say they didn't laugh during this, it just got too popular for its own good. The movie thrives on being so incredibly dumb that it becomes funny. The sense of style is its strongest suit, with such a low budget it's pretty incredible. While this isn't a classic, it's definitely fun.
Dead A

Gosh!
Alexander W

There are lots of very funny moments, and in contrast there are many moments you wished you had known about just so you could sit through them and keep your eyes closed. "Gosh!"
Bently L

Such a funny movie! Napolean's one-liners always get me and all of the supporting actors really know how to act around a guy like Napolean. The movie is pretty silly and random but that's what makes it funny! I suggest you go out and rent Napolean Dynamite or check the TV… More
Such a funny movie! Napolean's one-liners always get me and all of the supporting actors really know how to act around a guy like Napolean. The movie is pretty silly and random but that's what makes it funny! I suggest you go out and rent Napolean Dynamite or check the TV Guide for the next time it's on Comedy Central! "Do the chickens have large talons?"
Richard C

B
Lorenzo v

"He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove." 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.… More
"He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove." 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. <center>REVIEW</center> Hysterically funny high school comedy about the eponymous delusional nerd (Heder who comes across as the bastard son of Will Ferrell and Jerry Seinfeld) and his misadventures with his wimpy older brother Kip(Ruell), creepily living in 1982 state-of-mind Uncle Rico (Gries) with his hare-brained get-rich quick schemes, extreme living grandma (Martin) and his misfit buddies, the quiet sad-eyed Pedro (Ramirez) and photobug pony tailed girlfriend material Deb (Majorino) set in the endless plains of Preston, Idaho. Facing the daily hell of high school Napoleon daydreams and uses his creative 'skills' to full tilt despite the ridiculous odds stacked against his better judgment. Uproariously funny with some unique production design, costumes and hair-styles makes this microcosm of middle-America come to life with biting wit and style to filmmaker Jared Hess who co-scripted with his wife Jerusha echoes the likes of 'Election', 'Rushmore' and 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' yet is unique in that it allows its characters to boldly accept themselves for what they are and damn anyone who doesn't get it. Heder is a true comic fine in his weird vocal deliveries and ejaculations of 'Idiot!', 'Sweet!' and 'Dang!' and has a time-capsule moment at the film's climax involving the student council election; 'nuff said. A real sleeper comic ode to the dork in all of us.
Lewis C

Sure, everyone has seen it and it's been quoted to death. But it's still a funny, and oddly uplifting, movie. The first time I watched it, I started it over and immediately watched it again. Now, it may not have the same impact, but it's still a fun watch.
KJ P

Completely stupid lovable comedy!
Anthony L

A very original comedy that worked well due to Heder's excellent performance and Hess's original style of directing for this type of movie. The supporting cast are also really good, so, vote for Pedro!