RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
71 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:157

Fresh:111

Rotten:46

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: A charming, quirky, and often funny comedy.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for thematic elements and language

Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Jun 11, 2004 Limited

Box Office: $44,478,018

Synopsis: Jared Hess makes an unforgettable directorial debut with NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, a hilarious, tender, and utterly original portrait of a truly eccentric character. Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is a... Jared Hess makes an unforgettable directorial debut with NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, a hilarious, tender, and utterly original portrait of a truly eccentric character. Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is a high-school outcast in every sense of the word. More interested in playing tetherball by himself and drawing pictures of his favorite animal, the "liger" (a combination of a lion and a tiger), Napoleon is ignored by everyone in his tiny hometown of Preston, Idaho. At home, things aren't much better: his uber-nerd older brother, Kip (Aaron Ruell), and ultra-vain Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) are too busy with their own obsessions to give Napoleon the time of day. It isn't until a new student, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), arrives that Napoleon finds friendship and performs an act of brave defiance that makes him a true hero. Written by Hess and his wife, Jerusha, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE brilliantly captures the awkwardness of high school without succumbing to condescension. Most of this can be attributed to Heder, who steps into Napoleon's moon boots with a jaw-dropping flawlessness. The rest of the cast is just as natural, underplaying their roles and letting the comedy unfold without forcing any of the jokes. Add a hilarious soundtrack of 1980s hits and you have an instant classic, a crowd-pleasing riot that has an undeniably universal appeal. [More]

Starring: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez

Starring: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Haylie Duff, Diedrich Bader

Director: Jared Hess

Director: Jared Hess
Screenwriter: Jerusha Hess, Jared Hess
Producer: Jeremy Coon, Sean Covel, Chris Wyatt
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • >
    >
    >
    >
  • >
    >
    Napoleon's Bike Jump
    >
    Napoleon Dynamite Trailer
    >
  • Napoleon Dynamite - Behind the Scenes Clip
    >
    Napoleon Dynamite - At the Dance Clip
    >
    Napoleon Dynamite - Rico's Portrait Clip
    >
1 - 4 of 11

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

May 12, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • NTSC
  • Keep Case
  • Dual Side

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
  • Dolby Surround - Spanish
  • Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary: Jared Hess - Director; Jon Heder - Star; Jeremy Coon - Producer
  • Disc 1/Side A: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE - Widescreen Version
  • Widescreen - 1.85

Additional Release Material:

  • Deleted Scenes: (5) With Commentary

Interactive Features:

  • Hidden Features: Easter Eggs

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Stills/Photos
  • Disc 1/Side B: NAPOLEON DYNAMITE - Full Frame Version
  • Full Frame - 1.33

Additional Release Material:

  • Behind the Scenes: Making of the Wedding of the Century

Trailers:

  • 1. MTV On-Air promos
  • 2. ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
  • 3. Product Trailers - Soundtrack Promo
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Napoleon Dynamite

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Napoleon Dynamite may not even be friggin' sweet, but it does have skills. [Blu-ray]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
02/10/09
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

For most of its length this delivers a steady stream of uncomfortable gut laughs.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
07/24/07
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If you have an indie film sense of humor -- and those of you who have it know what I mean -- you'll probably enjoy this flick.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
11/02/06
Mary Lasse
Mary Lasse
Christianity Today

too odd to dismiss and often truly funny

Full Review Source: Perihelion Journal | comment Comment
09/11/06
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Perihelion Journal

It’s a cast of brilliant caricatures, and as such recalls the films of Wes Anderson.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Dave Calhoun
Dave Calhoun
Time Out

Seething with teen-angst irritability and an obstinate blind ignorance to just how much of an outcast he is, Napoleon Dynamite may be the biggest dork in the history of high school movies.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

As long as you don't mind making fun of the afflicted, there are some killer comic moments.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine

Delights in deadpan %u2013 celebrates nerd. And is a testament that beauty can be found everywhere. A charming, albeit quite odd cinematic piece. Harold and Maude -lite.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Report Card | comment Comment
03/20/06
Ross Anthony
Ross Anthony
Hollywood Report Card
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
01/17/06
Sydney Morning Herald

Napoleon Dynamite may be forcefully weird and intermittently humorous, and you might not know what the heck to make of it, but there's nothing shocking about its screenplay.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Leave this one for the dogs.

Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
06/21/05
Bill Clark
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony

Functions like an excruciating episode of Jerry Springer.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
05/04/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

A Roschach test of viewer empathy… while I respect the concerns of those who find the movie cruel, I have to side with those who find it ultimately endearing.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
05/02/05
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

'March to the beat of your own drum,' the movie may say, 'but we will laugh at you.'

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
02/03/05
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

É recheado de estereótipos dos mais ofensivos, mas torna-se agradável e divertido graças ao apelo de seu personagem-título.

comment Comment
01/18/05
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

It’s honestly kinda sweet and moving -- the blissed-out celebration of the lurking outcast inside all of us.

Full Review Source: Now Playing Magazine | comment Comment
12/28/04
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Now Playing Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
all

Latest News for Napoleon Dynamite

October 02, 2006: "Revenge of the Nerds" Remake Aims to Start Production
Effortlessly proving that Hollywood has officially run out of new ideas ... production is about to get underway on that "Revenge of the Nerds" remake we've been... More...

September 28, 2006: Box Office Guru Preview: Ashton vs. Ashton - This Time It's Personal
Ashton Kutcher fans get two chances to see (or hear) their favorite star this weekend as the Hollywood prankster takes on reigning box office champ "Jackass: Number... More...

September 28, 2006: Critical Consensus: 'Tis Not The "Season," "Guardian" Lacks Defenders, And "School" Flunks
This week at the movies, we've got jive talking woodland creatures ("Open Season," with Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher). We've got a school for Coast Guard rescue... More...

September 07, 2006: Box Office Guru Preview: Covenant Brings Evil to Theaters
After welcoming in four new wide releases per week for seven straight weekends, the North American box office slows it down a bit on Friday with only one saturation release and... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…
19% 19% Transformers: Revenge …
55% 55% Orphan

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
98% 98% Up
88% 88% Ballast
66% 66% The Merry Gentleman

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

60+ New Moon pics

60+ New Moon pics

You want Twilight images? We got 'em!

What to Watch?

What to Watch?

Find out with RT's Holiday Movie Preview!

Friday Harvest

Friday Harvest

This week's best pics, videos, and posters!

New Posters

New Posters

Your next glimpse of Alice in Wonderland!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Rachel McAdams Reads for Spider-Man 4
111
  • Rachel McAdams Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Mania.com
162
  • Danny Elfman Leaves The Wolfman Source: Cinemusic.net
29
  • Oldboy Remake Rumored Dead Source: Latino Review
20
  • Francis Lawrence Directing a Futuristic Sgt. Rock Source: Hollywood Reporter
3
  • Can Avatar Make Money? Source: New York Times
121
  • Robert Pattinson Says Breaking Dawn Could Roll in Fall 2010 Source: Collider.com
38
  • Joe Johnston Talks The Wolfman Source: Ain't It Cool News
8
  • Jason Schwartzman Talks Scott Pilgrim Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
102
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: John Cusack's Best Movies
93
  • Five Favorite Films with Roland Emmerich
78
  • Critics Consensus: 2012 Isn't Quite Earth-Shaking
44
  • RT on DVD: Up, the Ultimate Watchmen Cut, and More
38
  • Weekly Ketchup: Rachel McAdams Reads for Spider-Man 4
37
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks
34
  • Five Favourite Films with Ang Lee
29
  • 10 Movies That Changed The (End Of The) World
28
  • Friday Harvest: Clash of the Titans, Kick-Ass, and more!
22
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
4
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
15
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
40
  • Michael Moore: The RT Interview
139
  • Andrea Arnold talks Fish Tank - RT Interview
4
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Napoleon Dynamite at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Napoleon Dynamite at IGN
  • Napoleon Dynamite at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best of Disaster Porn
Best of Disaster Porn External Link

Moviefone looks back at 7 films that have paved the way for movies like 2012.

Actors with Famous Parents
Actors with Famous Parents External Link

BuzzSugar rattles off their 10 favorite current actors with celebrity pedigree.

The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T External Link

The AV Club looks back at a dance sequence from the only movie written by... Dr. Seuss?

10 Questions - Ewan McGregor
10 Questions - Ewan McGregor External Link

The Men Who Stare at Goats star answers your questions on TIME.com.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.