Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
About This Movie
An awkward, deadpan teenager in small-town Idaho navigates high school with his equally eccentric family and friends, building toward an election campaign and a dance sequence that became legendary. The humor is bone-dry and completely unlike anything else in the teen comedy genre. You will either quote this film endlessly or stare at it in bewildered silence, and both responses are valid.
Why It's a Classic
Jared Hess created a comedy that exists entirely outside the mainstream, with a rhythm, tone, and sense of humor so specific that it spawned its own subgenre of deadpan indie comedy. Jon Heder's Napoleon is one of the most original characters in comedy history, a figure who is simultaneously ridiculous and oddly heroic in his refusal to be anyone other than himself. Made for just $400,000, it earned over $46 million at the box office and became a cultural phenomenon driven almost entirely by word of mouth and quotability. The film celebrates outsiders and weirdos without ever making fun of them, which gives its gentle absurdity a warmth that keeps people returning to it.
Fun Fact
Jon Heder was paid $1,000 for his role as Napoleon, though he later renegotiated for a percentage of the profits after the film became a sensation. The dance scene at the end was choreographed by Heder himself, who based the moves on a combination of janitorial mopping motions and '80s music video choreography he found on YouTube.
Parent Note
The film is extremely mild in content, with no significant language, violence, or sexual material. Some humor involves mild bullying and family dysfunction. It is one of the cleanest teen comedies ever made and appropriate for all ages, though its intentionally slow, deadpan pacing may not appeal to everyone.
Quick Facts
- Year
- 2004
- Type
- 🎬 Movie
- Category
- Comedy
- Age Group
- Teens (Ages 14–17)