Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Coming Out at 27 August 2004 in theaters
Comedy
Napoleon Dynamite is comedy film produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, Sean Covel and Jory Weitz, written by Jared and Jerusha Hess and directed by Jared Hess. The film stars Jon Heder in the role of the title character, for which he was paid $1,000. After the film’s runaway success, Heder re-negotiated his compensation and received a cut of the profits. The film was Jared Hess’ first full-length feature and is partially adapted from his earlier short film, Peluca.
Napoleon Dynamite was acquired at the Sundance Film Festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures, who partnered up with MTV Films and Paramount Pictures for the release. It was filmed in and near 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 Hess’ life. The film’s total worldwide gross revenue was $46,122,713. The film has since developed a cult following and was voted at number 14 on Bravo’s 100 funniest movies.
Napoleon Dynamite is a socially awkward 16-year-old from Preston, Idaho, who lives with his grandmother, Carlinda Dynamite, and his older brother, Kipling Ronald “Kip” Dynamite. Kip, 32, is unemployed and boasts of spending hours on Internet chat rooms with his girlfriends and aspiring to be a cage fighter. Napoleon daydreams his way through school, doodling ligers and fantasy creatures, and reluctantly deals with the various bullies who torment him, particularly the obnoxious sports jock Don and the school bully Randy. Napoleon likes to make up stories about himself and his outlandish “skills” while having a sullen and aloof personality.
Director: Jared Hess
Writers: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess
Stars: Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Diedrich Bader, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin
Cast:
| Jon Heder | … | Napoleon Dynamite |
| Jon Gries | … | Uncle Rico |
| Aaron Ruell | … | Kip |
| Efren Ramirez | … | Pedro |
| Diedrich Bader | … | Rex |
| Tina Majorino | … | Deb |
| Sandy Martin | … | Grandma |
| Haylie Duff | … | Summer Wheatly |
| Trevor Snarr | … | Don |
| Shondrella Avery | … | Lafawnduh |
| Bracken Johnson | … | Randy |
| Carmen Brady | … | Starla |
| Ellen Dubin | … | Ilene |
| J.C. Cunningham | … | Jock #1 |
| Jimmy Stevens | … | Jock #2 |
| Brian Petersen | … | Lance |
| Brett Taylor | … | Nathan |
| Thomas Lefler | … | Principal Svadean |
| Elizabeth Miklavcic | … | Renae |
| Scott Thomas | … | Sheldon |
| Loria Badali | … | Shoney |
| Emily Dunn | … | Trisha |
| Jamen Gunnell | … | Vern |
| Nanette Young | … | Corrina |
| Walter Platz | … | Cashier |
| Nano De Silva | … | Cholo #1 |
| Arturo De Silva | … | Cholo #2 |
| Pat Donahue | … | Farmer |
| Dale Critchlow | … | Lyle |
| Tom Adams | … | FFA Judge #1 |
| Eldean Holliday | … | FFA Judge #2 |
| Arlando Larsen | … | FFA Judge #3 |
| Mary Heers | … | Teacher |
| T.J. Adams | … | Farm Boy #1 |
| Jake Visser | … | Farm Boy #2 / School Kid |
| Brady Stokes | … | Farm Boy #3 / School Kid |
| Thedora Peeterborg | … | Secretary #1 |
| Becky Demke | … | Secretary #2 |
| Yuka Ruell | … | Girl on Bike |
| Cody Abrams | … | School Kid |
| Jake Adams | … | School Kid |
| Paul Adams | … | School Kid |
| Cara Alder | … | School Kid |
| Shonee Alder | … | School Kid |
| Shontae Alder | … | School Kid |
| Frederick Atkins | … | School Kid |
| Derik Atkinson | … | School Kid |
| Tami Auger | … | School Kid |
| Amanda Austin | … | School Kid |
| Brooke Beckstead | … | School Kid |
| Madison Beckstead | … | School Kid |
| Landon Bell | … | School Kid |
| Heather Benson | … | School Kid |
| Cindy Biggs | … | School Kid |
| Jon Bliss | … | School Kid |
| Kolton Bosen | … | School Kid |
| Taylor Bosen | … | School Kid |
| Hayley Bowen | … | School Kid |
| Daniel Brewer | … | School Kid |
| Michael Brewer | … | School Kid |
| Ashely Buck | … | School Kid |
| Jeremy Burns | … | School Kid |
| Cherone Call | … | School Kid |
| Shanda Call | … | School Kid |
| Shawnee Call | … | School Kid |
| Shelbee Call | … | School Kid |
| Skylar Carver | … | School Kid |
| Christy Checketts | … | School Kid |
| Christina Child | … | School Kid |
| Paige Christensen | … | School Kid |
| Amy Christiansen | … | School Kid |
| Jade Christiansen | … | School Kid |
| Jane Christiansen | … | School Kid |
| Shane Christiansen | … | School Kid |
| Samantha Marsden | … | School Kid |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia