Editing Napoleon Dynamite

{{Short description|2004 film by Jared Hess}}
{{about|the film|the television series based on the film|Napoleon Dynamite (TV series){{!}}''Napoleon Dynamite'' (TV series)|the singer|Elvis Costello}}
{{use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Napoleon Dynamite
| image          = Napoleon dynamite post.jpg
| alt            = A young man with a mop of curly hair, wearing a brown suit. A hand is drawing in pencil around him.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Jared and Jerusha Hess|Jared Hess]]
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Jared Hess
* Jerusha Hess
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Peluca]]''|Jared Hess}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist |
* [[Jeremy Coon]]
* [[Chris Wyatt (producer)|Chris Wyatt]]
* [[Sean C. Covel (producer)|Sean Covel]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist |
* [[Jon Heder]]
* [[Jon Gries]]
* [[Aaron Ruell]]
* [[Efren Ramirez]]
* [[Tina Majorino]]
* [[Diedrich Bader]]
}}
| cinematography = Munn Powell
| editing        = Jeremy Coon
| music          = [[John Swihart]]
| studio         = Napoleon Pictures<!-- DO NOT CHANGE. THE FILM WAS PRODUCED INDEPENDENTLY; FOX, PARAMOUNT, AND MTV ONLY ACQUIRED DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS AFTER ITS PREMIERE AT SUNDANCE. ALL STATED IN THE REFERENCES. -->
| distributor    = {{Plainlist |
* [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] (through [[20th Century Fox]]; United States, Canada, Latin America, Italy, Japan and Turkey)
* [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[MTV Films]] (through [[United International Pictures]]; international)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2004|01|17|[[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2004|06|11|United States}}
| runtime        = 95 minutes<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $400,000<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=napoleondynamite.htm | title=Napoleon Dynamite (2004) |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=June 29, 2020 }}</ref>
| gross          = $46.1 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
}}

'''''Napoleon Dynamite''''' is a 2004 American [[Independent film|independent]] [[Coming-of-age story|coming-of-age]] [[comedy film]] produced by [[Jeremy Coon]], [[Chris Wyatt (producer)|Chris Wyatt]] and [[Sean C. Covel (producer)|Sean Covel]], written by [[Jared and Jerusha Hess]] and directed by Jared Hess. The film stars [[Jon Heder]] in the role of the titular character, a [[nerd]]y high-school student who deals with several dilemmas: befriending an immigrant who wants to be [[class president]], awkwardly pursuing a romance with a fellow student and living with his quirky family.

The film was Hess's first full-length movie and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, ''[[Peluca]]'' (2002). ''Napoleon Dynamite'' was acquired at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] by [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]], which partnered with [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[MTV Films]] for the release. It was filmed at [[Preston High School (Idaho)]] and different areas in [[Franklin County, Idaho]], in the summer of 2003. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2004. Most of the situations in the movie are loosely based on the life of Jared Hess. The film's total worldwide gross revenue was $46.1 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2004/NPDYN.php |title=Napoleon Dynamite - Box Office Data, DVD Sales, Movie News, Cast Information |work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> The film has since developed a [[cult following]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Lauren |last=Duca |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/10/napoleon-dynamite-anniversary_n_5440587.html |title=How 'Napoleon Dynamite' Became A Cultural Phenomenon (And Then Reached Critical Mass) |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Tobias |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/inapoleon-dynamitei-33260 |title=Napoleon Dynamite |work= The New Cult Canon |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=September 24, 2009 |access-date=2016-03-13}}</ref> and was voted number 14 on [[Bravo (U.S. TV network)|Bravo]]'s 100 funniest movies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefilmspectrum.com/?page_id=5769 |title=BRAVO 100 Funniest Movies |first=Jason |last=Fraley |work=The Film Spectrum}}</ref>

==Plot==
Socially awkward 16-year-old Napoleon Dynamite lives in [[Preston, Idaho]], with his grandmother, Carlinda, and his technology-addicted older brother, Kip. Napoleon's school days are spent doodling mythical creatures, dealing with bullies and playing [[tetherball]] by himself.

Carlinda is injured in a [[All-terrain vehicle|quad bike]] accident and asks Napoleon and Kip's Uncle Rico to look after the boys while she recovers. Flirtatious, middle-aged Rico arrives in the [[camper van]] he lives in, and teams up with Kip to sell items door-to-door in a [[get-rich-quick scheme]]. Kip wants to pay for his internet girlfriend, LaFawnduh, to visit from Detroit. Former high-school athlete Rico dwells on his past and dreams of [[time travel|going back in time]]. He believes wealth will help him get over his breakup with his girlfriend and failed dreams of [[National Football League|NFL]] stardom.

Napoleon becomes friends with Deb, a shy girl who sells headshots and knick-knacks to raise money for college, and Pedro, a bold transfer student from [[Ciudad Juárez|Juárez]], Mexico. Pedro is rebuffed when he asks the popular and snobby Summer Wheatly to accompany him to the high school dance. Deb gladly accepts. Pedro encourages Napoleon to find a date and he picks popular classmate Trisha. As a gift, he draws an (unintentionally bad) picture of her and delivers it to Trisha's mother, one of Rico's customers. Rico tells Trisha's mother embarrassing stories about Napoleon to evoke sympathy. She buys his wares and forces Trisha to accept Napoleon's invitation. Trisha goes to the dance with Napoleon but abandons him to hang out with Summer. Pedro allows Napoleon to dance with Deb.

Pedro runs against Summer for class president. The two factions put up flyers and hand out trinkets to attract voters. To demonstrate their "skills" and increase their respect around the school, Napoleon and Pedro enter a [[National FFA Organization|Future Farmers of America]] competition, grading milk and cow udders. They win medals, but it does little for their popularity.

Napoleon buys an instructional dance videotape. Kip's girlfriend, LaFawnduh, arrives and gives him an urban makeover, outfitting him in [[hip-hop]] regalia. Seeing that Napoleon is learning to dance, LaFawnduh gives him a [[mixtape]].

Rico continues to spread embarrassing rumors about Napoleon to prospective customers. He tries to sell Deb a breast-enhancement product, claiming it was Napoleon's suggestion, causing her to break off their friendship. Napoleon confronts Rico and tells him to leave, but Rico refuses. His sales scheme ends when martial arts instructor Rex walks in on Rico demonstrating the breast-enhancement product on his wife, and assaults him.

On Election Day, Summer gives a speech before the student body, and presents a dance skit to "[[Larger than Life (song)|Larger than Life]]" by the [[Backstreet Boys]]. Pedro gives a despondent speech after discovering he is also required to perform a skit. Napoleon gives the sound engineer LaFawnduh's mixtape and spontaneously performs a dance routine to "[[Canned Heat (song)|Canned Heat]]" by [[Jamiroquai]] as Pedro's skit. Napoleon's routine receives a [[standing ovation]], stunning Summer and her boyfriend, Don.

Pedro becomes class president, Grandma returns from the hospital, Rico reunites with his girlfriend, Kip and LaFawnduh leave on a bus for [[Michigan]] and Napoleon and Deb reconcile and play tetherball together.

Two months later, Kip and LaFawnduh get married, and Napoleon arrives late at the wedding on a stallion which he tamed for Kip and LaFawnduh to ride out on.

==Cast==
[[File:Napoleon Dynamite cast by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The cast of ''Napoleon Dynamite'' (from left to right: Majorino, Martin, Heder, Ruell, Ramirez, Gries, and Bader)]]
* [[Jon Heder]] as Napoleon Dynamite
* [[Efren Ramirez]] as Pedro Sánchez
* [[Tina Majorino]] as Deborah "Deb" Bradshaw
* [[Aaron Ruell]] as Kipland Ronald "Kip" Dynamite
* [[Jon Gries]] as Uncle Rico Dynamite
* [[Haylie Duff]] as Summer Wheatly
* [[Emily Dunn (actress)|Emily Kennard]] as Trisha Stevens
* [[Shondrella Avery]] as LaFawnduh Lucas
* [[Sandy Martin (actress)|Sandy Martin]] as Grandma Carlinda Dynamite
* [[Diedrich Bader]] as Rex
* Carmen Brady as Starla
* Trevor Snarr as Don
* [[Ellen Dubin]] as Aunt Ilene
* Dale Critchlow as Lyle<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/dale-critchlow-dead-napoleon-dynamite-actor-was-92-1234957295/|title = Dale Critchlow Dies: 'Napoleon Dynamite' Actor Was 92|first=Valerie|last=Complex|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]| date=February 19, 2022 |accessdate=October 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812183254/https://deadline.com/2022/02/dale-critchlow-dead-napoleon-dynamite-actor-was-92-1234957295/|archive-date=August 12, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Production==
===Origin===
[[File:Napoleon Dynamite 5362.jpg|thumb|right|Napoleon Dynamite's house, located at 1447 East 800 North Road, Preston, Idaho.]]
{{See also|Peluca}}
In 2002, [[Brigham Young University]] film students Jon Heder and Jared Hess collaborated on a class project; the result was a 9-minute short movie shot on black-and-white 16mm film entitled ''[[Peluca]]'' about a nerdy high school student named Seth.<ref name="here be ligers">{{cite magazine |last=Wood |first=Jennifer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/napoleon-dynamite-oral-history-20140828 |title=Here There Be Ligers: An Oral History of Napoleon Dynamite |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2014-08-28 |access-date=2017-03-11 }}</ref>

''Peluca'' was shown at the 2003 [[Slamdance Film Festival]]<ref name="SlamdanceOfficial">{{cite web| url=http://archive.slamdance.com/2003/festival/film_detail.asp?film_id=401 |title=Peluca | work=Slamdance Film Festival |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108142347/http://www.slamdance.com/2003/festival/film_detail.asp?film_id=401 |archive-date=2007-11-08}}</ref> and was well received. [[Jeremy Coon]] convinced Hess to drop out of school and adapt it into a feature-length film, and he helped him to find investors for the project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vice |first=Jeff |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/7/2/19837813/playing-with-dynamite-byu-student-hits-the-big-time-with-his-first-movie/ |title=Playing with 'Dynamite': BYU student hits the big time with his first movie |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=2004-07-02 |access-date=2017-03-11 |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922192532/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/595074407/Playing-with-Dynamite-BYU-student-hits-the-big-time-with-his-first-movie.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Hess sent the short film and the script to a variety of different casting directors, many of whom thought that the idea was "too weird or they just didn't like the character," Hess explained.<ref name="here be ligers"/> One casting director suggested [[Jake Gyllenhaal]] over unknown actor Jon Heder for the lead role but Hess believed Heder was the only actor to play the part. [[Jason Lee (actor)|Jason Lee]] was offered the role of Uncle Rico while [[Brad Garrett]] auditioned for Rex and enjoyed the script, but decided not to commit.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 29, 2019 |author=Court Mann |title='Gosh!' An oral history of 'Napoleon Dynamite' (Part 1) |url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/29/20672155/gosh-an-oral-history-of-napoleon-dynamite-part-1 |work=[[Deseret News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129044517/https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/29/20672155/gosh-an-oral-history-of-napoleon-dynamite-part-1 |archive-date=November 29, 2019 |access-date=February 24, 2021 }}</ref> Actor [[Vincent Gallo]] was also considered and almost cast as Uncle Rico.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Timothy|last=Gunatilaka|title=Is the reissued special edition of ''Napoleon Dynamite'' worth buying?|url=https://ew.com/article/2006/05/19/reissued-special-edition-napoleon-dynamite-worth-buying/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=19 May 2006}}</ref> Heder was paid $1,000 for starring in the film, but successfully negotiated to receive more after the film became a runaway success.<ref name="CareerHeder">{{cite web |date=16 April 2010 |author=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/3588036/Alejandro-Gonzales-dynamite-career |title=Alejandro Gonzales's dynamite career |publisher=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=18 January 2021 }}</ref>

=== Filming and setting ===
[[File:Pedros house from Napoleon Dynamite.jpg|thumb|right|Pedro's house, located in Preston, Idaho]]
Hess shot the film on location in Preston, in southeastern [[Idaho]], located near the [[Utah]] border, in July 2003. Operating on a tight budget of $400,000, Hess cast many of his friends from school, including Heder and [[Aaron Ruell]], and he relied on the generosity of Preston locals, who provided housing and food to crew members.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kendel |last=Murrant |url=http://www.idahopress.com/napoleon-dynamite-sweet-skills/article_6556bfd7-9ce9-520a-9e7c-b3d113020bb6.html |title=Napoleon Dynamite: Sweet skills |work=[[The Idaho Press-Tribune]] |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2017-03-11 }}</ref> Among the established actors in the cast was comedy veteran [[Diedrich Bader]], who filmed his scenes as virile martial art instructor Rex in one day. He recalled in 2011 that ''Napoleon Dynamite'' "still to this day [is] one of the two top scripts I've ever read", alongside ''[[Office Space]]'' (1999), one of his most-recognized roles.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 27, 2011 |url=http://collider.com/comic-con-napoleon-dynamite-diedrich-bader-interview/ |title=Comic-Con 2011: Diedrich Bader Interview Napoleon Dynamite |first=Sandra |last=Kraisirideja |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] }}</ref> "It was very, very hot," Hess recalled in a ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' interview. "But it was so much fun being in this rural farm town making a movie. We shot it in 23 days, so we were moving very, very fast; I just didn't have a lot of film to be able to do a lot of takes. It was a bunch of friends getting together to make a movie. It was like, 'Are people going to get this? Is it working?'"<ref name="here be ligers"/>

[[File:Preston High School - Preston, Idaho.jpg|right|thumb|210px|[[Preston High School (Idaho)|Preston High School]] was one of the filming locations for the movie.]]
Hess describes the film as being "so autobiographical".<ref name=" here be ligers"/> "I grew up in a family of six boys in Preston, Idaho, and the character of Napoleon was a hybrid of all the most nerdy and awkward parts of me and my brothers growing up. Jerusha really was like Deb growing up. Her mom made her a dress when she was going to a middle school dance and she said, 'I hadn't really developed yet, so my mom overcompensated and made some very large, fluffy shoulders.' Some guy dancing with her patted the sleeves and actually said, 'I like your sleeves ... they're real big,"' Hess said in an interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.<ref name="here be ligers"/>

The film is set during the 2004–2005 school year, as shown on Napoleon's student ID card in the title sequence.<ref name="nix">{{cite web |last=Papadatos |first=Markos |date=March 19, 2024 |title=Darci Monet talks about 'The Rose' — 'Napoleon Dynamite' 20th anniversary recording |url=https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/darci-monet-talks-about-the-rose-napoleon-dynamite-20th-anniversary-recording/article?fbclid=IwAR1p4ogLS9PGxAa-YMCckjAgrOzecU3RIiiR6VtqiofiL2mVJe9lS_rZnJs_aem_Ac6hBmglx2mjtELiLqUNEM4wZ_UJdVlJ_07iz1hqk24myPSx3w_f0q0VdQ5gjprrx8EZdArKUPNeZRPGRA4p7bi6 |access-date= |website=DigitalJournal.com}}</ref><ref name=lyle>{{cite book |last=Lyle |first=Jason Garrett |title=Social Outcast Cinema: Generic Evolution and Identification in Early 21st Century Teen Film |date=2008 |publisher=[[Regent University]] |isbn=9780549518389 |page=71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A2iDuPE2WOIC&q=napoleon+dynamite+id+card&pg=PA71 |access-date=29 July 2015 }}</ref> The film depicts numerous culturally retroactive elements harkening back between the 1970s to 1990s. For example, Deb wears a side [[ponytail]] and Napoleon wears [[Moon Boot]]s, both popular fashion trends of the 1980s.<ref name=lyle /> One scene is set at a school dance that plays only 1980s music such as [[Alphaville (band)|Alphaville]]'s "[[Forever Young (Alphaville song)|Forever Young]]," whereas an earlier scene features students performing a [[American Sign Language|sign language]] rendition of "[[The Rose (song)|The Rose]]" (1980), originally made popular by Bette Midler (it was actually sung in the film by L.A.-based studio session vocalist Darci Monet, who was never credited or paid any residuals for her work<ref name=nix />). Much of the technology in the film is also archaic; Napoleon uses a top-loader [[VCR]] and [[Walkman]] [[compact cassette|cassette]] player, Kip connects to the Internet via a pay-per-minute [[Dial-up Internet access|dial-up]] connection and Uncle Rico drives a 1975 [[Dodge Ram Van#Original B series|Dodge Tradesman]].<ref name=lyle /><ref>{{cite news |date=October 4, 2010 |last=Ingrassia |first=Bob |title=Land of 10,000 Lakes ... and Uncle Rico's van from "Napoleon Dynamite" |url=http://www.fasthorseinc.com/blog/2010/10/land-of-10000-lakes-and-uncle-ricos-van-from-napoleon-dynamite/ |access-date=21 April 2017 |work=Fast Horse }}</ref> The song Napoleon Dynamite dances to at the end of the film—"Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai—came out in 1999.

===Opening sequence===
[[File:UFO Abduction Insurance card, Don't leave Earth without it. (51056852196).jpg|thumb|right|A replica of the UFO Abduction Insurance Card shown in the opening sequence.]]

The film was originally made without opening titles. Audiences at test screenings were confused about when the film was set. Eight months after the film was completed, the title sequence was filmed in cinematographer Munn Powell's basement.<ref name="hess-aott">{{cite web | url = http://www.artofthetitle.com/2010/08/30/napoleon-dynamite/ | title = A Q&A with director Jared Hess. |first=Alexander |last=Ulloa | access-date = 2010-09-03 |work = [[Art of the Title]] }}</ref> Ruell, who played Kip, suggested the idea of the title sequence. The sequence shows a pair of hands placing and removing several objects on a table. Objects like plates of food had the credits written in condiments, while other objects like a [[Lemonhead (candy)|Lemonheads]] box or a tube of [[ChapStick]] had the credits printed on them. Hess explains:
{{Blockquote|text=So this question came up a few times and the Fox Searchlight marketing people were like "maybe we could do something to say that this is happening now" because I kept explaining to them that I grew up in a small town in Idaho and that things are more, you know, functional and fashion doesn't matter as much ... It's kind of weird, but because they wanted to show that the film takes place now, there's a title where a hand pulls Napoleon's school ID out of a wallet and it says "2004".<ref name="hess-aott"/>}}
On the studio's reaction to the sequence, Hess adds:
{{Blockquote|text=We actually had Jon Heder placing all the objects in and out [of frame], and then showed it to Searchlight who really liked it and thought it was great, but some lady over there was like "There are some hangnails or something – the hands look kinda gross! It's really bothering me, can we re-shoot some of those? We'll send you guys a [[hand model]]." We were like "WHAT?!". This, of course, was my first interaction with a studio at all, so they flew out a hand model a couple weeks later, who had great hands but was five or six shades darker than Jon Heder. So we reshot, but they're now intermixed, so if you look there are like three different dudes' hands (our producers are in there too). It all worked out great, though, and was a lot of fun.<ref name="hess-aott"/>}}

===Dance scene===
The Hesses wrote the climactic dance scene because they knew Heder liked to dance.<ref name="dance scene">{{cite news |first=Martin |last=Patail |url=https://www.pdxmonthly.com/articles/2012/2/27/interview-with-jon-heder-of-napoleon-dynamite-february-2012 |title=Exclusive Interview with Jon Heder of Napoleon Dynamite |work=[[Portland Monthly]] |date=2012-02-27 |access-date=2018-08-15 }}</ref> "Jared's wife was like, 'Jon, I hear you're pretty good dancer. I've seen you boogie; it's pretty sweet,'" recalled Heder. "And I was like, 'Well, I like to dabble.' I liked to mess around sometimes in front of friends and dance. But I did take pride in it. I won't be modest. I wasn't great but I did like to mess around ... Cut to two years later: after we had shot the short, they were like, 'Okay we're going to have you dancing in the movie as the climax. This is going to make or break the film.'"

When it came to shooting the dance scene for the final film, the producers scheduled to film it towards the end of the film. When they finally got to the scene, they were running out of money and film. They only had one roll of film (approximately 10.5 minutes) left to shoot.<ref name="DVD-Commentary"/>

"It was a lot of pressure," Heder observed. "I was like, 'Oh, crap!' This isn't just a silly little scene. This is the moment where everything comes, and he's making the sacrifice for his friend. That's the whole theme of the movie. Everything leads up to this. Napoleon's been this loser. This has to be the moment where he lands a victory. He gets up there, and it's quiet: no reaction from the audience."<ref name="dance scene"/>

The dance was spontaneously improvised by Heder, with some choreography help from Tina Majorino, and additional moves taken from ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'', [[Michael Jackson]], and ''[[Soul Train]]''.<ref name="DVD-Commentary">{{cite video |title=Napoleon Dynamite-(Commentary by Jared Hess, Actor Jon Heder and Producer Jeremy Coon) |medium=DVD |publisher=[[Fox Searchlight Pictures]] |date=2005}}</ref> "They were like, 'No, Jon, just figure it out.' So I just winged it. I danced three times and they took the best pieces from each of those."<ref name="dance scene"/>

"When you're shooting in independent film, you don't know what you're going to get the rights to," Heder explained. "We thought Jamiroquai might be expensive. So we danced to three different songs. To that song and another Jamiroquai song, "[[Little L]]." We danced to Michael Jackson, something off of ''[[Off the Wall]]''. Just those three. And then we got the rights to Jamiroquai. And I think that was half our budget."<ref name="dance scene"/>

===Origin of the name "Napoleon Dynamite"===
Upon the film's release, it was noted that the name "Napoleon Dynamite" had originally been used by musician [[Elvis Costello]], most visibly on his 1986 album ''[[Blood & Chocolate]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/bac/bac_info_a02.htm |title = Blood And Chocolate (reissue) - Elvis Costello And The Attractions |work = The Elvis Costello Home Page |date=October 1, 2000}}</ref> although he had used the pseudonym on a single B-side as early as 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elviscostello.info/disc/official/ib/ib_info_s02.htm |title=The Elvis Costello Home Page |date=1982-07-23 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Jared and Jerusha Hess|Jared Hess]] remarks that he was unaware of Costello's use of the name until two days before the end of shooting, when he was informed by a teenage [[extra (actor)|extra]].<ref name="EW" /> He later said, "Had I known that name was used by anybody else prior to shooting the whole film, it definitely would have been changed&nbsp;... I listen to [[hip hop music|hip-hop]], dude. It's a pretty embarrassing coincidence."<ref name="EW" /> Hess claims that "Napoleon Dynamite" was the name of a man he met around 2000 on the streets of [[Cicero, Illinois]], while doing [[Mormon missionary|missionary]] work for [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2004-07-16 |title=Did Napoleon Dynamite Borrow Elvis' Alias? |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/07/16/new-cult-comedy-stumbles-upon-fluky-name-mistake/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426025408/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,662230,00.html |archive-date=2009-04-26 |access-date=2021-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Booth |first=William |date=2004-06-20 |title=In 'Napoleon Dynamite,' Nerdity Without Shame |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52435-2004Jun18.html |access-date=2023-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=McQuaid |first=Peter |date=2004-06-10 |title=Is it a wacky leap of faith? |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-10-wk-movie10-story.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |quote=I found out later it was also an alias Elvis Costello used on a 1986 album. We found out, like, one of the last days of shooting, and it was too late to turn back then.}}</ref>

Costello believes that Hess got the name from him, whether directly or indirectly. Costello said, "The guy just denies completely that I made the name up&nbsp;... but I invented it. Maybe somebody told him the name and he truly feels that he came to it by chance. But it's two words that you're never going to hear together."<ref name="contactmusic">{{cite web |author=WENN |date=2008-12-02 |title=Costello Adamant Napoleon Dynamite Was His Idea |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/costello%20adamant%20napoleon%20dynamite%20was%20his%20idea_1088228 |access-date=2023-02-15 |work=[[Contactmusic.com]]}}</ref>

==Release==
''Napoleon Dynamite'' premiered at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on January 17, 2004, where it was picked up by [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040126005872/en/Fox-Searchlight-Acquires-Worldwide-Rights-Napoleon-Dynamite|title=Fox Searchlight Acquires Worldwide Rights to ''Napoleon Dynamite''|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=January 26, 2004|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326083418/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040126005872/en/Fox-Searchlight-Acquires-Worldwide-Rights-Napoleon-Dynamite|archivedate=March 26, 2020|accessdate=April 18, 2020}}</ref> Shortly after, Fox Searchlight collaborated with [[Paramount Pictures]] and [[MTV Films]] to release the film, with Fox Searchlight handling North American distribution, and Paramount and MTV distributing internationally.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040526005248/en/Love-Napoleon-Fox-Searchlight-Pictures-MTV-Films|title=For the Love of ''Napoleon,'' Fox Searchlight Pictures and MTV Films Create ''Dynamite'' Partnership With Paramount Pictures|publisher=Business Wire|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804055945/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040526005248/en/Love-Napoleon-Fox-Searchlight-Pictures-MTV-Films|archivedate=August 4, 2020|date=May 26, 2004|accessdate=April 18, 2021}}</ref> The film was theatrically released in the United States on June 11, 2004.

===Anniversary screenings and 4K restoration===
On June 9, 2014, the film was screened at [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] in Los Angeles to celebrate its 10th anniversary. In addition, a bronze statue of Napoleon Dynamite, complete with tetherball, was placed at the 20th Century Fox studio lot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/napoleon-dynamite-10th-anniversary-screening/ |title=20 Pieces of Trivia We Learned at the 'Napoleon Dynamite' 10th Anniversary Screening |first=Germain |last=Lussier |publisher=[[/Film]] |date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/napoleon-dynamite-10th-anniversary-where-are-they-now/ |title=From Tina to Tots: Catch Up with the Cast of Napoleon Dynamite 10 Years Later |first1=Kelli |last1=Bender |first2=Nicole |last2=Sands |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=June 11, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref>

A 20th anniversary screening of the film took place at the [[2024 Sundance Film Festival]] on January 24, 2024, to commemorate the festival's 20th anniversary, in the form of a new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative produced by [[Searchlight Pictures]] and its parent company [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], under the supervision of Hess. On the announcement, he remarked "Returning to Sundance with ''Napoleon Dynamite'' feels like a homecoming. When it premiered at the festival 20 years ago, we never anticipated the incredible reaction it would receive ... It's always been a very personal film for Jerusha and me, so the love affair it's had with audiences all these years continues to delight us. To commemorate its 20th anniversary, we are thrilled to screen this newly restored version ... The restoration team did an amazing job bringing to life new details from the original film's negative that we'd never seen before. We can't wait to share it!"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/sundance-2024-shorts-lineup-anniversary-programming-1234934592/ | title=Sundance Unveils Shorts and 40th Anniversary Programming | date=December 12, 2023 }}</ref>

The director and several cast members attended the Sundance screening in Park City, Utah. Efren Ramirez reprised part of Pedro's speech at the student assembly by saying, "I really don't have much to say. Have a happy Sundance."<ref>{{Cite web |last=StrangeloveofMovies |title=Strangelove goes to the movies - at the Sundance Film Festival! |url=https://strangeloveofmovies.com/f/strangelove-goes-to-the-movies---at-the-sundance-film-festival |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=StrangeloveofMovies |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Home media===
''Napoleon Dynamite'' was released on VHS and DVD on December 21, 2004, by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] in North America and by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] in all other territories. The DVD is a double-sided disc containing full screen and letterbox versions of the film, plus ''Peluca'' and deleted scenes—all with audio commentary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Talk |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13488/napoleon-dynamite/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> A 2-disc edition (dubbed "Like, the Best Special Edition, Ever!") was released in 2006 with additional deleted scenes, promotional material and a second commentary track,<ref>{{Cite web |title=DVD Talk |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/21512/napoleon-dynamite-like-the-best-special-edition-ever/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> but fell out of print in favor of the first edition DVD and the Blu-Ray.

The "10th Anniversary Edition" [[Blu-ray]] was released on June 2, 2014. A digital release of the 4K screening of the film is also currently available to purchase and stream.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/10685/napoleon_dynamite_10th.html |title=Napoleon Dynamite: 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review |first=Kevin |last=Yeoman |website=High-Def Digest |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref>

===Lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures===
On August 30, 2011, the film's production company Napoleon Pictures filed a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures for $10 million for underreporting royalties and taking improper revenue deductions. In its term sheet, Fox agreed to pay 31.66% of net profits on home video. The lawsuit said that a 2008 audit revealed that Fox was only paying net royalties on home videos at a 9.66% rate, and there were underreported royalties and improper deductions.<ref name="hollywoodreporter1">{{cite news |first=Eriq |last=Gardner |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/napoleon-dynamite-producers-sue-fox-230245 |title='Napoleon Dynamite' Producers Sue Fox Searchlight for $10 Million in Profits |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2011-01-09 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref>

Napoleon Pictures also alleged that Fox had breached the agreement in multiple other respects, including underreporting pay television license fees, failing to report electronic sell-through revenue, charging residuals on home video sales, as well as overcharging residuals on home video sales, deducting a number of costs and charges Fox had no right to deduct and/or for which there is no supporting documentation.<ref name="hollywoodreporter1"/>

In May 2012, Fox went to trial after failing to win a [[summary judgment]] on the case. The trial began on June 19, 2012.<ref>{{cite news |first=Eriq |last=Gardner |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-napoleon-dynamite-lawsuit-338723 |title=Fox Stands Trial in $10 Million 'Napoleon Dynamite' Case |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2012-06-19 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> On November 28, 2012, a 74-page decision sided with Fox on 9 of the 11 issues. Napoleon Pictures was awarded $150,000 based on Fox accounting irregularities.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Belloni |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/napoleon-dynamite-lawsuit-fox-wins-397923 |title='Napoleon Dynamite' Lawsuit: Fox Wins Major Ruling |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2012-12-05 |access-date=2013-08-08}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Box office===
Despite a very [[Limited release|limited initial release]], ''Napoleon Dynamite'' was a commercial success. It was filmed on an estimated budget of a mere $400,000, and less than a year after its release, it had grossed $44,940,956.<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
It also spawned a slew of merchandise, from refrigerator magnets to T-shirts and Halloween costumes.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 September 2005 |last=Oldenburg |first=Don |title=Geek Tycoon: 'Napoleon' Is Cool With Retailers |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/09/04/geek-tycoon-napoleon-is-cool-with-retailers/3205cfa3-d5e2-4ad9-a955-f36c5c8aea4a/ |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 24, 2005 |author=Joanna Weiss |title='Napoleon Dynamite' sparks merchandising phenomenon |url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/7/24/19903520/napoleon-dynamite-sparks-merchandising-phenomenon |publisher=[[Boston Globe]] |via=[[Deseret News]] |quote=The "Vote for Pedro" shirt was the chain's best-selling T-shirt ever. }}</ref>

===Critical response===
On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], 72% of 175 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.40/10. The website's consensus reads, "A charming, quirky, and often funny comedy."<ref>{{cite web |title=Napoleon Dynamite |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/napoleon_dynamite/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[weighted average]], assigned the film a score of 64 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Napoleon Dynamite |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/napoleon-dynamite |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref>

Peter Travers of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine complimented the film, saying, "Hess and his terrific cast – Heder is geek perfection – make their own kind of [[deadpan]] hilarity. You'll laugh till it hurts. Sweet."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Peter |last=Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |date=June 24, 2004 |title=Napoleon Dynamite (Film) |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |volume=951 |page=186 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/napoleon-dynamite-255790/}}</ref> The ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'' called the film "a refreshing new take on the overused teen-comedy genre" and said that the film "may not make you laugh out loud – it's too sly and subtle for that – but it will have you smiling every minute, and often grinning widely at its weirded-out charm."<ref>{{cite journal |date=June 11, 2004 |last=Sterritt |first=David |author-link= David Sterritt |title=Revenge of the (Idaho) nerd in 'Napoleon Dynamite' |journal=[[Christian Science Monitor]] |volume=96 |page=138 |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0611/p15s01-almo.html}}</ref>

Michael Atkinson of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' praised the film as "an epic, magisterially observed pastiche on all-American geekhood, flooring the competition with a petulant shove."<ref>{{cite web| date = June 1, 2004| first = Michael| last = Atkinson| author-link = Michael Atkinson (writer)| title = Deadpan Walking. Welcome to the droll house: American geekhood finds a new icon in a clueless Idaho teen| url = http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0423,atkinson,54121,20.html| work = [[Village Voice]]| access-date = September 24, 2006| archive-date = January 8, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070108041807/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0423,atkinson,54121,20.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> In a mixed review, ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised Heder's performance and the "film's most interesting quality, which is its stubborn, confident, altogether weird individuality", while criticizing the film's resolution that comes "too easily."<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |date=June 11, 2004 |title=A Nerdy Nobody of a Hero Who Proves to Be Napoleonic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/11/movies/film-review-a-nerdy-nobody-of-a-hero-who-proves-to-be-napoleonic.html |work=[[New York Times]] |page=15}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film one-and-a-half stars, writing that he felt that "the movie makes no attempt to make [Napoleon] likable" and that it contained "a kind of studied stupidity that sometimes passes as humor".<ref>{{cite news |date=June 18, 2004 |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |url = https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/napoleon-dynamite-2004 |title = Napoleon Dynamite| work = [[Chicago Sun Times]]}} {{Rating|1.5|4}}</ref> At the time, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' critics gave it a grade C and C− respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2004-12-21 |author=Gilbert Cruz |title=Napoleon Dynamite |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/12/21/napoleon-dynamite-3/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=2004-06-25 |author=EW Staff |title=Napoleon Dynamite |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/04/22/napoleon-dynamite/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=2004-06-25 |author=Lisa Schwarzbaum |title=Napoleon Dynmite |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/06/25/napoleon-dynmite/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] }}</ref><ref>Schwarzbaum, Lisa (June 18, 2004), "NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Film)".'' Entertainment Weekly''. (770):60-63</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' later ranked Napoleon #88 on its 2010 list of The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years, saying, "A high school misfit found a sweet spot, tapping into our inner dork."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Adam B. |last=Vary  |title=The 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years: Here's our full list! |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/06/01/100-greatest-characters-of-last-20-years-full-list/ |date=June 4, 2010 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |number=1105/1106 |page=90}}</ref> The film was on several year-end lists. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' placed it at number 22 of the 25 Top DVDs of 2004.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Peter |last=Travers |author-link=Peter Travers |date=November 25, 2004 |title=Napoleon Dynamite (Film) |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |number=962 |page=82}}</ref>

===Awards===
* Best Feature Film at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival the same year. The film's budget was only $400,000. When the film rights were sold to a [[Distribution (business)|major distributor]], Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox supplied additional funds for the [[post-credits scene]].
* In 2005, the film – itself an MTV Films production – won three [[MTV Movie Awards]], for Breakthrough Male Performance, Best Musical Performance, and Best Movie. The film is #14 on [[Bravo (American TV channel)|Bravo]]'s "100 Funniest Movies".
* It won the 2005 [[Golden Trailer Awards]] for Best Comedy.
* It won the 2005 [[Golden Satellite Award]] for Best Original Score (John Swihart).
* Four awards at the [[Teen Choice Awards]]. Choice Movie: Female Breakout Star for Haylie Duff, Choice Movie: Dance Scene, Choice Movie: Hissy Fit for Jon Heder, and Choice Movie: Comedy.
* The 2004 Film Discovery Jury Award for Best Feature
* April 2005, the Idaho Legislature approved a resolution commending the filmmakers for producing ''Napoleon Dynamite'', specifically enumerating the benefits the movie has brought to Idaho, as well as for showcasing various aspects of Idaho's culture and economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/2005/HCR029.html|title=Idaho's resolution commending Jared and Jerusha Hess|access-date=December 26, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060101040017/http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/2005/HCR029.html|archive-date=January 1, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2005/HCR029.html|title=Text of A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND COMMENDING JARED AND JERUSHA HESS AND THE CITY OF PRESTON FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE MOVIE "NAPOLEON DYNAMITE."|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014723/http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2005/HCR029.html|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Napoleon Dynamite: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack}}

==Future==
===Possible sequel===
After nearly two decades of rumors, it was reported in September 2020, that a sequel to ''Napoleon Dynamite'' was in discussion.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 September 2020 |author=Dominic Smithers |title=Napoleon Dynamite Sequel Is Being Discussed |url=https://www.ladbible.com/news/tv-and-film-napoleon-dynamite-sequel-is-being-discussed-20200908 |website=LadBible.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 September 2020 |title=Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez Discuss Possibility for 'Napoleon Dynamite' Sequel |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/napoleon-dynamite-2-jon-heder-jared-hess-sequel-talks-news |website=HYPEBEAST }}</ref> Heder stated that he is interested in a darker take on the film's characters instead of rehashing the original film's plot:
{{cquote|I feel like the future for Napoleon would be a lot more raw and edgy. So whatever he comes up with would be fun to explore, because I think whatever Jared comes up with wouldn't be your typical, 'Let's do a sequel where they all look the same and they all act the same.' I think it would be an interesting development in their lives.}}

Ramirez improvised a script for a sequel in which Pedro is married to Summer Wheatly, has five kids and owns a bakery. In the same hypothetical script, Kip has fulfilled his dream to become a cage fighter, while Rico has ventured into a new business that he believes will make him rich.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 September 2020 |author=NEERAJ CHAND |title='Napoleon Dynamite 2' May Still Happen, Jon Heder Expects It'll Be Raw and Edgy |url=https://movieweb.com/napoleon-dynamite-2-plans-jon-heder/ |website=Movieweb }}</ref>

In January 2023, Heder stated that he believed a sequel was "inevitable" and reiterated his interest in displaying a darker tone for the sequel.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://movieweb.com/napoleon-dynamite-2-would-be-a-dark-real-time-sequel-jon-heder-says/ | title=Napoleon Dynamite 2 Would be a Dark, Real Time Sequel, Jon Heder Says | newspaper=Movieweb | date=January 18, 2023 }}</ref> In October 2024, he stated once again that a sequel was possible, saying "that the door's not closed yet."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://movieweb.com/napoleon-dynamite-sequel-tease-efren-ramirez/? | title=Napoleon Dynamite Star Offers Exciting Sequel Update | date=October 10, 2024 }}</ref>

===Animated series===
{{Main|Napoleon Dynamite (TV series)}}
In April 2010, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] announced that an animated series was in development, with the original cast reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Sciretta |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/05/15/fox-developing-napoleon-dynamite-animated-television-series|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910032012/http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/05/15/fox-developing-napoleon-dynamite-animated-television-series|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-10|title=Fox Developing Napoleon Dynamite Animated Television Series|work=[[/Film]]}}</ref> <!--In October 2010.--> The series debuted on Sunday, January 15, 2012. Director Jared Hess, his co-screenwriter wife Jerusha, and [[Mike Scully]] produced the show in association with [[20th Century Fox Television]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/17/fox-announces-animated-comedies-napoleon-dynamite-allen-gregory-for-next-season/68343|title=Fox Announces Animated Comedies 'Napoleon Dynamite' & 'Allen Gregory' For Next Season|date=October 17, 2010|last=Gorman|first=Bill|work=[[The Futon Critic]]|access-date=October 17, 2010|archive-date=October 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020050902/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/17/fox-announces-animated-comedies-napoleon-dynamite-allen-gregory-for-next-season/68343|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 14, 2012, it was announced that Fox had canceled the series after 6 episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/14/napoleon-dynamite-canceled-bobs-burgers-renewed-by-fox/133961/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516182731/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/14/napoleon-dynamite-canceled-bobs-burgers-renewed-by-fox/133961/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-05-16 |title='Napoleon Dynamite' Canceled, 'Bob's Burgers' Renewed By Fox |work=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=2012-05-14 |access-date=2012-08-11}}</ref> The complete series was released on DVD on November 4, 2014, by Olive Films.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lambert |first=David |title=Napoleon Dynamite - Olive Films Announces 'The Complete Animated Series' on DVD |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Napoleon-Dynamite-The-Complete-Series/20248 |work=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |access-date=20 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720200333/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Napoleon-Dynamite-The-Complete-Series/20248 |archive-date=20 July 2015 }}</ref>

===Related appearances===
The 2010 film ''[[When in Rome (2010 film)|When in Rome]]'' features Jon Heder portraying Lance, a street magician who attempts to impress the film's protagonist Beth, played by [[Kristen Bell]]. In one scene, Lance introduces her to his assistant Juan, played by Efren Ramirez, reuniting the actors.

In 2016, [[Burger King]] brought back the cheesy tots menu item. This was followed by an ad featuring Heder and Ramirez as patrons with Ramirez having bought the item and Heder listlessly asking if he can have one, only to grab the whole lot and shove them into his pants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2016/ultimate-geeks-reunite-watch-napoleon-dynamite-pedro-share-tots-new-burger-king-ad/|title=Ultimate geeks reunite: Watch Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro share tots in new Burger King ad|website=Geek Wire|last=Schlosser|first=Kurt|date=November 30, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>

For the film's 20th anniversary, [[Ore-Ida]] produced a new commercial with Heder fully reprising the role of Napoleon Dynamite, now promoting "tot-protecting" pants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/06/17/ore-ida-protects-napoleon-dynamite-s-treasured-tater-tots-film-s-20th-anniversary|title=Ore-Ida protects Napoleon Dynamite's treasured tater tots on film's 20th anniversary|website=The Drum|last=Kemp|first=Audrey|date=June 17, 2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Legacy==

The term "The Napoleon Dynamite Problem" has been used to describe the phenomenon where "quirky" films such as ''Napoleon Dynamite'', ''[[Lost in Translation (film)|Lost in Translation]]'' (2003) and ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]'' (2004) prove difficult for researchers to create [[algorithm]]s that are able to predict whether or not a particular viewer will like the film based on their ratings of previously viewed films.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/magazine/23Netflix-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |title=If You Liked This, You're Sure to Love That |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |date=21 November 2008 |first=Clive |last=Thompson |author-link=Clive Thompson (journalist) }}</ref>

For several years the city of Preston held a "Napoleon Dynamite Festival" in the summer.<ref name="NPR">{{cite web |date=June 18, 2005 |author=Scott Simon |title=A Sweet Festival for 'Napoleon Dynamite' Fans |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4708758?storyId=4708758&t=1614480997522 |website=NPR.org }}</ref> Many of the featured festival themes related to events occurring during the film. For example: [[Tetherball]] Tournament, [[Tater Tots|Tater Tot]] Eating Contest, [[Moon boot|Moon Boot]] Dance, Impersonation, Look-A-Like Contest, [[American football|Football]] Throwing Contest and more. Fifteen years after the film came out fans continue to visit Preston, primarily as a side trip as they make their way to [[Yellowstone National Park]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 18, 2016 |author=Clayton Gefre Herald Journal |title=Preston, Idaho residents look back on 'Napoleon Dynamite' |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4022003&itype=CMSID&fullpage=1 |website=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] }}</ref>

The success of ''Napoleon Dynamite'' led to other films set in small towns, such as ''[[Little Miss Sunshine]]'' (2006) and ''[[Juno (film)|Juno]]'' (2007), which would have similar critical, popular, and financial success.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br6JL1dZroI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/Br6JL1dZroI| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=How 'Napoleon Dynamite' became Hollywood's template for Middle America |date=2019-07-09 |access-date=2020-04-18 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==See also==  
* [[Preston, Idaho#Arts and culture|Napoleon Dynamite Festival]]
* ''[[Napoleon Dynamite: The Game]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0374900}}
* {{Mojo title|napoleondynamite}}

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