Poster © Fox Searchlight Pictures. Shown at reduced size for review and commentary.
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GenreComedy
RatedPG
Runtime1 hr 36 mins
ReleasedAugust 27, 2004
StreamingSee Where to Watch
DirectorJared Hess
StarringJon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell
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Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
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| Napoleon Dynamite's Details | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Rated | PG |
| Released | 01/17/2004 (Sundance); 06/11/2004 (limited); 08/27/2004 (United States) |
| Streaming | See Where to Watch on this page. |
| Running Time | 1 hr 36 mins |
| Budget | Not reported |
| Box Office | Updated daily from Box Office Mojo. See the numbers below. |
| Based On | Peluca by Jared Hess |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Napoleon Dynamite's Interests | |
| General | Tetherball, tater tots, ligers, moon boots, Uncle Rico's van, Idaho at its most Idaho. |
| Music | John Swihart. The score is exactly as deadpan as the lead. |
| Movies | Nacho Libre (2006). Jared Hess again, now with stretchy pants. |
| Television | The 2012 Napoleon Dynamite cartoon. Same voices, same shrugs. |
| Heroes | Uncle Rico. Still replaying the 1982 season in his head, every single day. |
| Napoleon Dynamite's Crew | |
| Director | Jared Hess |
| Writers | Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess |
| Producers | Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, Sean Covel |
| Cinematography | Munn Powell |
| Music | John Swihart |
| Edited By | Jeremy Coon |
| Production | Napoleon Pictures |
| Distributed By | Fox Searchlight Pictures (through 20th Century Fox; United States), Paramount Pictures and MTV Films (through United International Pictures; international) |
Napoleon Dynamite keeps tater tots in his pocket, and that’s about as much plot as this movie carries. Jared Hess builds 96 minutes out of awkward pauses, ugly carpet and a kid in Preston, Idaho, who sighs at the world like it owes him money. Some people find that hilarious. Some find it a staring contest. It’s both. Jon Heder never blinks, never winks and never begs for a laugh, which is exactly why he gets so many. Jon Gries steals whole scenes as Uncle Rico, still filming himself throwing footballs and dreaming about 1982. Efren Ramirez’s Pedro barely changes expression while running for class president, and Tina Majorino’s Deb is the sweetest person in Idaho. The middle stretch wanders between bits that don’t connect. Then comes the dance, and the whole movie snaps into place. It made $46.1 million worldwide on a reported $400K. A 6.9 because the deadpan is a gamble that pays off in one perfect scene. $8,687 says you draw a liger on the next sticky note you find.
What works: Heder’s total commitment, Uncle Rico’s sad glory days and a dance scene that earns its legend.
What doesn’t: The episodic middle wanders between unconnected bits, and the deadpan can feel like a test of patience.
Who it’s for: Anyone who was a weird kid in a small town and secretly practiced dance moves in their bedroom.
Spoilers
Napoleon rescues Pedro’s campaign by dancing to Canned Heat on stage in his Vote for Pedro shirt, and the whole school stands up. Pedro wins, and Napoleon and Deb finally play tetherball together.
Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is a high schooler in Preston, Idaho, who doodles fantasy creatures, plays tetherball alone and answers every question like it personally offended him. He lives with his grandma and his older brother Kip (Aaron Ruell), who spends all day chatting online with a girl. When Grandma breaks her tailbone, Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) rolls in with his van and his memories of 1982 football glory. At school, Napoleon finds two allies: Pedro (Efren Ramirez), the new transfer student from Juárez, and Deb (Tina Majorino), who sells glamour shots door to door. Jared Hess directs. Ninety-five minutes, tots not included.
Anyone with real skills. Nunchucks, bow hunting and drawing ligers all count.
| Jon Heder | Napoleon Dynamite |
| Efren Ramirez | Pedro Sánchez |
| Tina Majorino | Deborah "Deb" Bradshaw |
| Aaron Ruell | Kipland Ronald "Kip" Dynamite |
| Jon Gries | Uncle Rico Dynamite |
| Haylie Duff | Summer Wheatly |
| Emily Kennard | Trisha Stevens |
| Shondrella Avery | LaFawnduh Lucas |
| Sandy Martin | Grandma Carlinda Dynamite |
| Diedrich Bader | Rex |
| Carmen Brady | Starla |
| Trevor Snarr | Don Moser |
| Ellen Dubin | Ilene |
| Dale Critchlow | Lyle |
- (cur | prev) 14:30, 18 October 2026 DataBot +40 Numbers refreshed: IMDb users 7.0 / 10 (260,130 votes) → 7.0 / 10 (260,150 votes).
- (cur | prev) 14:30, 17 October 2026 DataBot +440 Numbers refreshed: Production budget Not reported → $400K; Worldwide box office $46.1M; Domestic box office $44.5M; Opening weekend $117K; Profit / loss (est.) +$22.5M; Rotten Tomatoes 72%; box office chart updated; Rotten Tomatoes critics 72% (175 reviews); Metacritic 64 / 100; IMDb users 7.0 / 10 (260,130 votes); movie.guru score 6.6.
- (cur | prev) 12:00, 17 October 2026 DataBot +2,000 Profile created from Wikipedia and Box Office Mojo: cast, crew, release dates, budget, official trailer.