Introduction to Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite, a film directed by Jared Hess, was one of the greater surprise hits of the year, both in cinemas and streaming. Hess’ endlessly quotable directorial debut was an even greater surprise hit in summer 2004 when an indie comedy with a lineup full of unknown people became the sleeper hit of the year. Napoleon Dynamite is now the #9 streaming film on HBO Max, tracked by A Minecraft film at #2.
Origins of Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite has its origin in a nine-minute black and white short film about a nerd student, directed by Hess and starring the then-unknown Jon Heder. The film was a hit at the Slamdance Film Festival, and Hess and his wife and producing partner, Jerusha Hess, secured $400,000 to create a film version of the film. Heder returned as the title character for the film, which was shot in Southern Idaho. The film was ultimately published by Fox Searchlight Pictures in June 2004 and proved to be a massive viral hit, earning 46.1 million US dollars in its theater run.
What is Napoleon Dynamite About?
The film takes place in rural Idaho and stars Heder as an unpleasant teenager, Napoleon Dynamite, who lives with his grandmother and his strange older brother, Kip. When their grandmother ends up in the hospital, she calls her eccentric uncle, Rico, to take care of them. Rico turns out to be a bad influence on the boys, but Napoleon comes out of his shell and befriends the Mexican transfer student, Pedro, and shy debut, Deb. When Pedro runs for class president, Napoleon temporarily pursues a romance with Deb; in the meantime, Rico’s get-rich-quick schemes run afoul of a militant martial arts teacher, Rex. The whole thing, surprisingly, culminates with the magic of dance.
Impact and Legacy
Napoleon Dynamite made both Hess and Heder household names and produced a short-lived animated series that reunited much of the cast. Hess had a hit with his follow-up, the Jack Black wrestling comedy, Nacho Libre, but A Minecraft film has put all his previous filmography in the shade at the box office. The adaptation of the video game has achieved 955 million US dollars worldwide, and a sequel with Hess at the helm is in development. Napoleon Dynamite is now streaming on HBO Max.
Streaming Information
Napoleon Dynamite is available to stream on various platforms, including Hulu and AMC+. The film has a runtime of 96 minutes and was released on August 27, 2004. Directed by Jared Hess, the film has become a cult classic and is widely regarded as one of the best indie comedies of the 2000s. With its quirky characters, witty dialogue, and offbeat humor, Napoleon Dynamite is a must-see for fans of comedy and indie film.
