This article is about the film. For the television series based on the film, see Napoleon Dynamite (TV series). For the singer, see Elvis Costello. Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon dynamite post.jpg Theatrical release poster Directed by Jared Hess Produced by Jeremy ♥♥♥♥ Chris Wyatt Sean C. Covel Jory Weitz Screenplay by Jared Hess Jerusha Hess Based on Peluca by Jared Hess Starring Jon Heder Jon Gries Efren Ramirez Tina Majorino Aaron Ruell Diedrich Bader Haylie Duff Music by John Swihart Cinematography Munn Powell Edited by Jeremy ♥♥♥♥ Production company MTV Films Napoleon Pictures Access Films Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures (North America) Paramount Pictures (International) Release dates January 17, 2004 (Sundance) June 11, 2004 (United States) Running time 95 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $400,000[1] Box office $46.1 million[1] Napoleon Dynamite is a 2004 American comedy film produced by Jeremy ♥♥♥♥, Chris Wyatt, Sean C. 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.[2] 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 and Paramount Pictures, in association with MTV Films. It was filmed in and near Franklin County, Idaho in the summer of 2003. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2004, and in June 2004 was released on a limited basis. Its widespread release followed in August. The film's total worldwide gross revenue was $46,118,097.[3] The film has since developed a cult following.[4][5] Contents [hide] 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3.1 Background 3.1.1 Setting 3.2 Opening sequence 3.3 Origin of the name "Napoleon Dynamite" 3.4 Lawsuit 4 Release 5 Rating 5.1 Home media 6 Reception 6.1 Critical response and box office 6.2 Awards 7 Soundtrack 8 Animated series 9 See also 10 References 11 External links Plot[edit] Preston High School was one of the filming locations for the movie. Napoleon Dynamite is a socially awkward 16-year-old boy from Preston, Idaho, who lives with his older brother, Kiplin Ronald "Kip" Dynamite, and their grandmother. Kip, 32, is unemployed and boasts of spending hours in Internet chat rooms with "babes" and aspiring to be a cage fighter; their grandmother leads a secret life involving mysterious boyfriends and quad-biking in the desert. 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. Napoleon likes to make up stories about himself whilst having a sullen and aloof attitude. Napoleon's grandmother breaks her coccyx in a quad-bike accident and asks their Uncle Rico to look after the boys while she recovers. Rico, a middle-aged and flirtatious former athlete who lives in a campervan, treats Napoleon like a child. He uses the visiting opportunity to team up with Kip in a get-rich-quick scheme to sell numerous items door-to-door. Kip wants money to visit his Internet girlfriend LaFawnduh, while Rico believes riches will help him get over his failed dreams of NFL stardom and the loss of his girlfriend. Napoleon becomes friends with two students at his school: Deb, a shy girl who runs various small businesses to raise money for college; and Pedro, a bold yet calm transfer student from Juarez, Mexico. A friendship soon develops between the three outcasts. During this time, preparations begin for the high school dance. Pedro asks Deb to be his dance partner, which she accepts, while Napoleon chooses and attempts to persuade a reluctant classmate called Trisha to be his own date. Inspired by an election poster at the dance, Pedro decides to run for class president, pitting him against Summer Wheatley, a popular and snobby girl at the school. The two factions put up flyers and give out accessories to the students to attract voters. Kip, meanwhile, is head-over-heels in love since LaFawnduh has come to visit him from Detroit. She gives Kip an urban makeover, outfitting him in hip-hop regalia. Rico's ongoing scheme causes friction with Napoleon when Rico begins spreading embarrassing rumors about him, to evoke sympathy from his prospective customers. Rico later tries to sell Deb a breast-enhancement product, claiming it was Napoleon's suggestion, which causes her to break off their friendship. His scheme ends when he visits the wife of the town's martial arts instructor, Rex, to try and sell her the breast enhancements, but Rex walks in and beats him up after witnessing Rico's demonstration. On the day of the class president elections, Summer gives a speech before the student body, and then presents a dance skit with a school club. Pedro and Napoleon then discover that a skit was also required from them, and a despondent Pedro gives an unimpressive speech. Napoleon then gives the sound engineer a music tape given to him by LaFawnduh, and performs an elaborate dance routine to "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai. Summer and her boyfriend, Don, are unimpressed, but the routine receives a standing ovation from all the other students. The film concludes with Pedro becoming the class president, LaFawnduh leaving with Kip on a bus for Michigan, Rico reuniting with his estranged girlfriend, Grandma returning from the hospital, and Napoleon and Deb making up and playing tetherball. In a post-credits scene, Kip and LaFawnduh are married in an outdoor ceremony in Preston. Napoleon, absent for the vows, arrives riding a horse, claiming that it is a "wild honeymoon stallion" that he has tamed himself. Kip flicks LaFawnduh's garter as a "keepsake" towards Napoleon, Rico, and Pedro, before he and LaFawnduh ride off across the fields. Cast[edit] The cast of Napoleon Dynamite. Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite Efren Ramirez as Pedro Sánchez Tina Majorino as Deb Bradshaw Aaron Ruell as Kip Dynamite Jon Gries as Rico Dynamite Haylie Duff as Summer Wheatley Emily Kennard as Trisha Jenner Shondrella Avery as LaFawnduh Lucas Sandy Martin as Grandma Diedrich Bader as Rex Trevor Snarr as Don Production[edit] Background[edit] Setting[edit] Franklin County Courthouse, Preston, Idaho.jpg Preston is a real town in Southeastern Idaho, located near the Utah border. Since the release of Napoleon Dynamite, it has become a tourist attraction of sorts, with the high school being a main feature. Preston held a Napoleon Dynamite Festival every summer from 2004 through 2008 to celebrate the filming of Napoleon Dynamite in Preston and nearby towns. Napoleon Dynamite was shot in the towns of Preston, Idaho and Richmond, Utah.[6] The film is set during the 2004-2005 school year, as shown on Napoleon's student ID card in the title sequence.[7][8] However, the film contains a number of anachronisms indicating that it would be more appropriately set in the 1980s or 1990s. For example, Deb wears a side ponytail and Napoleon wears Moon Boots, both popular fashion trends of the 1980s.[8] One scene is set at a school dance which only plays 1980s music such as Alphaville's "Forever Young," while a later scene features students performing a sign language rendition of "Larger than Life," a Backstreet Boys song released in 1999.[7] Much of the technology in the film is also archaic; Napoleon uses a VCR and Walkman cassette player, Kip connects to the Internet via a pay-per-minute dial-up connection and Uncle Rico drives a 1975 Dodge Tradesman.[8][9] Opening sequence[edit] "We actually had Jon Heder placing all the objects in and out [of frame], and then showed it to Searchlight who really liked it and thought it was great, but some lady over there was like "There are some hangnails, or something — the hands look kinda gross! It's reall