Napoleon Dynamite
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
One-of-a-kind high school comedy for the family.
A Lot or a Little?
What you willāand won'tāfind in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Napoleon Dynamite
Community Reviews
Based on 31 parent reviews
A Movie for The Whole Family
What's the Story?
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (Jon Heder) just can't catch a break. Life seems so unfair. Women only like men who've got skills, and to Napoleon that means nunchuck skills, computer hacking skills, or maybe some really sweet dance moves. But those endless arms and legs don't seem to want to cooperate well. Then there's Napoleon's uncle and his schemes to make a lot of money and go back in time to that crucial turning point in a high school football game, and Napoleon's best friend Pedro's (Efren Ramirez) campaign for class president against alpha girl Summer (Haylie Duff), and what happens when his older brother's online girlfriend shows up.
Is It Any Good?
What's great about this satisfyingly humorous movie is that it keeps us laughing with Napoleon, not at him. And that's thanks to Napoleon Dynamite's deliriously specific detail, superb use of the Idaho setting, affection for its characters, unexpected developments, and most of all its genuine sweetness. He may be clueless, but he has a great heart, and we know he will be fine, not just for a satisfyingly happy ending for the movie but beyond.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about adolescence in different times and places. How is life for the teens in Napoleon Dynamite like or unlike your own experiences of adolescence?
While being quirky and exaggerated in its depictions, how does the movie convey the deeper realities of growing up "different" in a small town?
While released in 2004, how does the movie reference the pop culture of different decades?
How do the characters in Napoleon Dynamite demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 11, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: December 21, 2004
- Cast: Efren Ramirez , John Gries , Jon Heder
- Director: Jared Hess
- Inclusion Information: Latino actors
- Studio: Fox Searchlight
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship , High School
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Empathy
- Run time: 82 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: thematic elements and language
- Last updated: July 10, 2024
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate