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Napoleon Dynamite

Play trailer 1:11 Poster for Napoleon Dynamite PG 2004 1h 36m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 172 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In small-town Preston, Idaho, awkward teen Napoleon Dynamite has trouble fitting in. After his grandmother is injured in an accident, his life is made even worse when his strangely nostalgic uncle, Rico, shows up to keep an eye on him. With no safe haven at home or at school, Napoleon befriends the new kid, Pedro, a morose Hispanic boy who speaks little English. Together the two launch a campaign to run for class president.
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Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite

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Critics Consensus

A charming, quirky, and often funny comedy.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/26/2010
4/5
One-of-a-kind high school comedy for the family. Go to Full Review
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 07/24/2007
For most of its length this delivers a steady stream of uncomfortable gut laughs. Go to Full Review
Dave Calhoun Time Out 06/24/2006
It's a cast of brilliant caricatures, and as such recalls the films of Wes Anderson. Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 09/19/2022
B
Those looking for credible developments should steer clear: the movie is all about the moment, the juxtaposition of the sublime and the absurd. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/07/2020
10/10
The soundtrack is casual, catchy, and sensationally fitting, complementing the alternating weirdness and sweetness of the incredibly singular personas onscreen. Go to Full Review
Mark Jackson Epoch Times 05/17/2020
4/5
Geek extraordinaire Napoleon thinks he's dynamite, wearing his brown velour suit and other 1970s fashion faux pas like they were bestowed on him to be cooler-than-you in. You will be inspired to likewise walk to the beat of your own drum. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Bethany P Nov 26 Hilarious! Dry humor at its best. Laugh out loud movie. With moments we can all empathize. Great flick and a comedy classic. See more Ian A Nov 13 Hey Pedro, gonna watch this movie? See more Brad @Ilovemovies506 Oct 19 This is my friends favorite movie and I eventually eat it during the summer and it's very funny 🤣 See more Patrick G. @patricktgolden Oct 15 All time comedy classic! See more George W. @Warm_Cookies Oct 14 This movie is great, funny jokes, a plot that makes sense and a musical dance number!? That’s all that matters to me. See more Iliya D. @RottenClip Oct 11 This movie is OK. Nice story and I can see that character development, but why do people like it so much??? It’s pretty ordinary, and I guess funny? See more Read all reviews
Napoleon Dynamite

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Movie Info

Synopsis In small-town Preston, Idaho, awkward teen Napoleon Dynamite has trouble fitting in. After his grandmother is injured in an accident, his life is made even worse when his strangely nostalgic uncle, Rico, shows up to keep an eye on him. With no safe haven at home or at school, Napoleon befriends the new kid, Pedro, a morose Hispanic boy who speaks little English. Together the two launch a campaign to run for class president.
Director
Jared Hess
Producer
Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, Sean Covel
Screenwriter
Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess
Distributor
Fox
Production Co
Access Films, Napoleon Pictures Limited
Rating
PG (Thematic Elements|Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 14, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.5M
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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