Napoleon Dynamite

Play trailer

1:11

Napoleon Dynamite

PG

2004

1h 36m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A charming, quirky, and often funny comedy.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Read all reviews

Carlos M

@CarlosMZ 2d

No le tenia mucha fé pero de verdad es un tipo de comedia como super cool pero mas sozo no se siento que el prota de esta peli pareciera que tiene algun estilo de autismo pero anormal

See more

din D

@L1J2K3 2d

This movie was original, funny, and really different. Some of the one-liners were the best I have heard in a while, Napolean himself as a character was pulled off quite nice. Overall, a fun and refreshing experience with a nice heartfelt ending.

See more

Benjamin W.

@Code70 3d

One of the quirkiest, most unique films out there. Napoleon Dynamite is a real time-capsule of a film. It puts you at this one place at one point in time, and you follow this oddball group of characters in their weird everyday lives. It’s not a traditional style of film, and this kind of comedy had not really ever been done before. It’s charming, important, and indeed quite funny.

See more

Jonathan L

@RT68149114 4d

Geniusly awkward characters, with equally hilarious as uncomfortable moments all throughout the film. The dialogue is scarce and intentionally stupid, but what really gets the laughs in this movie is the silences paired with Napoleons heavy mouth breathing.

See more

Chris B.

@ctotheg Mar 16

Nostalgic funny movie for me.

See more

Hayden T.

@RT84200025 Mar 15

Interesting plot and storyline and characters but this movie is just okay

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Jared Hess

Director

Jon Heder

Napoleon Dynamite

Jon Gries

Uncle Rico

Aaron Ruell

Kip Dynamite

Efren Ramirez

Pedro

Tina Majorino

Deb

Cheaper by the Dozen 2

8%

57%

Cheaper by the Dozen 2

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cheaper by the Dozen 2

New York Minute

11%

47%

New York Minute

Watchlist

Son of the Mask

6%

16%

Son of the Mask

Watchlist

Nacho Libre

39%

55%

Nacho Libre

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Nacho Libre

Kicking & Screaming

41%

44%

Kicking & Screaming

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Kicking & Screaming

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Napoleon Dynamite Gets Animated in New TV Show

"Revenge of the Nerds" Remake Aims to Start Production

Box Office Guru Preview: Ashton vs. Ashton – This Time It’s Personal

Napoleon Dynamite: Trailer 1

1:11

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now