Napoleon Dynamite | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jared Hess |
Screenplay by |
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Based on | Peluca by Jared Hess |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Munn Powell |
Edited by | Jeremy Coon |
Music by | John Swihart |
Production company | Napoleon Pictures |
Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 95 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $400,000[1] |
Box office | $46.1 million[1] |
Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American independent coming-of-age teen comedy film produced by Jeremy Coon, Chris Wyatt, and 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 nerdy 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. Filming was done at Preston High School and in 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.[2] The film has since developed a cult following[3][4] and was voted at number 14 on Bravo's 100 funniest movies.[5]