Napoleon Dynamite

He's out to prove he's got nothing to prove.

2004 • 95 min • Comedy

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Synopsis

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Our family guide

Best from age 10

Movie Knight Score

2216 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
68 Audience · 2214 · 49%

An awkward teen helps his new friend run for class president while navigating a bizarre family life. This quirky comedy explores themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and finding your place.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 1/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 0/10

Heads up

Mild bullying
Some immature humor
Brief animal cruelty (chicken)

What it models well

Friendship and loyalty
Embracing individuality
Perseverance

Talk about it after

What makes someone popular?
Dealing with bullies
The importance of being yourself

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Napoleon Dynamite. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

Country

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Top billed cast

Director: Jared Hess • Crew: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess

Trailers & clips

Reviewer notes

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Original, unique, bizarre, hilarious! * I love all the whacky and authentic and heartwarming characters from this movie. * I think it has a kind of bedroom pop vibe to it. Alot of bedroom pop music videos look and feel similar with the fashion and ideas they riff on. * I love the environment they're in. Wide open, sparse midwestern town. The American landscape is big and cool.…
portman123, TMDB Community

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers
Jon Heder is the eponymous high school student who lives with his brother "Kip" (Aaron Ruell) at the home of his grandmother (Sandy Martin). Now she's a bit of a game girl and manages to come off her buggy whilst racing in the sand dunes and so their womanising tupperware salesman uncle "Rico" (Jon Gries) turns up to provide them with steak and keep them in check.…
CinemaSerf, TMDB Community