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Jared Hess' A Minecraft Movie was one of the bigger surprise hits of the year, both in movie theaters and now on streaming. Riding the wave of its success is Hess' endlessly quotable directorial debut, which was an even bigger surprise hit in the summer of 2004, when an indie comedy with a cast full of unknowns became the sleeper hit of the year. Napoleon Dynamiteis now the #9 streaming movie on HBO Max, trailing A Minecraft Movie at #2.

Napoleon Dynamite has its origins in Peluca, a nine-minute black-and-white short film about a nerdy high school student. Directed by Hess and starring the then-unknown Jon Heder, the film was a hit at the Slamdance Film Festival, and Hess and his wife and producing partner, Jerusha Hess, secured $400,000 Usd to make a feature-length version of the film. Heder returned as the title character for the movie, which was shot in southern Idaho. The...

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Jared Hess' oddball comedy "Napoleon Dynamite" was an enormous success when it was released back in 2004, making over $46 million on its tiny $400,000 budget. The film was just peculiar enough to attract a snarky audience of jeering twentysomethings who liked to quote the film's kooky dialogue and imitate lead actor Jon Heder's peculiar delivery. The title character lived in a boring city in Idaho, but, like a Wes Anderson character, also lived in a carefully constructed personal universe of his own. Napoleon was always confident and assured, even as he was relentlessly picked on at his high school. His fashion sense stunk, but he attacked the world with a strangely laconic self-assurance that one can't help but envy. 

The character was striking enough to launch a miniature industry of "Vote for Pedro" T-shirts, sweaters, mugs, Funko Pops, bumper stickers, and Halloween costumes.

When asked if Hollywood is finally facing its video game renaissance, Jared Hess abruptly switched topics, from “Minecraft” to “Nosferatu.”

“I just loved it,” “A Minecraft Movie” director Hess told IndieWire of the gothic romance from last year. Robert Eggers’ award-winning vampire movie adapts the 1922 German film and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” by extension. It’s set centuries before video games were invented, but for Hess, Eggers’ exacting and gutsy reconsideration is proof of a key principle behind “A Minecraft Movie.”

“A lot of big movies from the last 20-plus years, so much of the imagery and the experience feels similar,” said Hess. “My favorite [films] are the ones that have personality and characters and interesting things that are unexpected and that surprise you. Those films always inspire me.”

Hess made his feature debut at Sundance in 2004 with an underdog comedy that demonstrated a clarity of vision beyond the twenty-something filmmaker’s years.

It takes a lot of range to go from playing the quietly awkward Pedro in Napoleon Dynamite to getting ripped and donning drag to join Jason Statham in the loud, in-your-face film, Crank (more on that below). That's Efren Ramirez for you, an underrated and dynamic actor who swings wildly from genre to genre. MovieWeb spoke with him about the new film Seven Cemeteries, which also runs the gamut in terms of genre and style. It's a comedic Western horror film that sees him as a snarky undead companion to the one and only Danny Trejo, who plays Bruno, a hardcore but quirky antihero seeking a ragtag team to help him protect a woman's prized ranch from villainous drug lords. Again, it's a far cry from his iconic role in Napoleon Dynamite, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

"I think Napoleon's so ingrained in people's minds today and for...

The best Napoleon Dynamite quotes celebrate awkward teens in high school with hilarity and deadpan delivery. Many characters, from Napoleon to Kip to Uncle Rico, deliver lines that become instantly quotable in this quirky comedy. From random inane hilarity to absurdly real dialogue, these quotes have the power to live forever and make the movie rewatchable.

In 2004, a small, innocuous comedy premiered, and soon everyone was repeating the best Napoleon Dynamite quotes to their friends. As with other irreverent teen comedies like Superbad and Juno, it wasnt afraid to focus on celebrating the socially awkward kids in high school. Nearly every scene provided a random assortment of inane hilarity, delivered with deadpan seriousness by every cast member. Because there was nothing ironic or tongue-in-cheek about the characters in general, the best Napoleon Dynamite quotes made the dialogue feel both absurd and absurdly real.

Just about every line was seemingly written...

Napoleon Dynamite cast reunites to speculate on characters' futures, hinting at child support, legal tangles, political aspirations. Uncertain fate of Napoleon and Deb's relationship, Uncle Rico's YouTube legal troubles, Pedro running a law firm with Summer. Possibility of Napoleon Dynamite sequel hinted by Jon Heder, with Jon Gries suggesting a real-time, winter setting for film.

Napoleon Dynamite is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year, and the cast recently got together to not only mark the occasion, but to speculate on where their beloved characters would be now. Released on June 11, 2004, the film has gone on to be regarded as one of the best comedies of the early aughts, and made Jon Heder a household name, paving the way for him to star in such films as The Benchwarmers, School for Scoundrels, and Blades of Glory. Produced on a budget of just $400,000, Napoleon Dynamite would go on to earn $46 million at the box office.

Deb is part of a trio of quirky high schoolers in 2004's Napoleon Dynamite. Deb, a shy friend of Napoleon, sells trinkets and offers glamour photos to pay for college. Tina Majorino, who played Deb, also starred in Veronica Mars, showcasing her versatility as an actress.

Deb in Napoleon Dynamite is one-third of the strangest and funniest trio of high schoolers that has ever appeared in an indie film. Released in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite is the quintessential quirky high school comedy that millennials are still quoting to this day. Its listless story, aimless characters, and general lack of conflict make it a hard film to grasp, yet, it's one of the funniest movies of the 2000s and an unexpectedly heartfelt story. It's almost like the Napoleon Dynamite filmmakers took a camera, planted it in Idaho, and just presented what they caught.

Some may say it's not their cup of tea, but...

Napoleon Dynamite Summary: 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. Release Date: 2004-08-27 Budget: $400 thousand Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Tina Majorino, Haylie Duff, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries Director: Jared Hess Genres: Comedy Rating: PG Runtime: 96 minutes Writers: Jerusha Hess, Jared Hess Studio(s): Paramount Pictures Distributor(s): Searchlight Pictures, Paramount Pictures Subplots in Napoleon Dynamite go nowhere, serving as mere gags and jokes rather than contributing to the overall plot. Bullying is a serious problem at Preston High, yet there is a lack of intervention or awareness from the school administration. Some characters in the movie, such as Rico and Summer Wheatley, lack development and depth, making them less memorable and impactful.

Upon its release in 2004, Napoleon Dynamite was among the...

Theater Camp is a quirky comedy film directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman, they also worked on a screenplay with Noah Galvin and Ben Platt. The comedy film is set in a theater camp in upstate New York, and it follows the quirky teachers and the budding as the threat of financial ruin looms over the camp because its indomitable founder Joan falls into a coma and her clueless brother is now in charge. Theater Camp also stars Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Jimmy Tatro, and Ayo Edebiri. So, if you loved Theater Camp here are some similar movies you should watch next.

Wet Hot American Summer (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – USA Films

Synopsis: It’s the last day of Camp Firewood’s season, but there’s still time for the big talent show, a little romance… and for everyone to be wiped out by the piece of NASA...

” Tina, eat. Food. Eat the Food! “

Throw a pigskin a quarter mile then head to the Mad Art Gallery for wolverine-hunting Tenacious Eats style on Sat, August 24th! It’s another Tenacious Eats ‘Movies For Foodies’ Summer Film Series event! This time it’s the all-powerful cult classic Napoleon Dynamite (2004) starring John Heder and Jon Gries as ‘Uncle Rico’. A Facebook invite for this event can be found Here. We Are Movie Geeks has two tickets to give away!

All you have to do is leave a message below letting us know who your favorite character in Napoleon Dynamite is! (mine is Uncle Rico) . It’s so easy!

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be In The St. Louis Area The Evening Of The Event.

Please contact Tenacious Eats.com with any food restrictions and or dietary needs (such as milk from cows that have Not wandered into an onion patch!)

This...

More than 12 years after their Napoleon Dynamite took the box office by storm, the stars of the hit indie comedy are reuniting in an unconventional way. The fast food chain Burger King brought back Jon Heder (Napoleon) and Efren Ramirez (Pedro) for a new commercial, promoting the return of their Cheesy Tots. The ad puts a new twist on the now-infamous tots scene from the original comedy.

Burger King's Cheesy Tots were once a staple of the fast food chain's menu, before they were discontinued in 2009, just five years after director Jared Hess' Napoleon Dynamite hit theaters. The fast food recently resurrected another previously-discontinued menu item, the Chicken Fries, and now fans can enjoy the Cheesy Tots along with the Chicken Fries. Here's what Alex Macedo, president of Burger King North America, had to say in a statement.

"Fans have been craving the return of cheesy tots for some time now.

Oh high school. It was a rough time for a lot of us. Maybe more memorable for some. While we’re passed those adolescent days now, we’re deep in Back to School days and getting more than a little nostalgic. That’s due in part to all the high school teen movies that still rattle around in our pop culture consciousness. Many of the characters in the movies shared the same embarrassments we did, the same first crushes, the same droning teachers, and we all wish we had a friend like Ferris Bueller.

So we asked the PopOptiq staff, which high school character from the movies were you? Share your own pop culture doppelgänger below!

Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) from Scream

Randy Meeks and I have much in common. We are both massive horror movie fans who worked in a video store, studied film and had a hopeless crush on our best friend.

What a difference a year makes. In 2003, Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess, and Jon Heder — students at Brigham Young University's film school — were just another trio of independent filmmakers working the festival circuit in Park City. Their short film "Peluca," about a fanny pack-wearing teen named Seth, was selected to screen at the Slamdance Film Festival. If the protagonist sounds slightly familiar, it's because he was the prototype for the titular geek hero of Napoleon Dynamite, the micro-budget indie that would become the toast of that city's other film fest — Sundance...

Sundance Institute today announced the films and music acts that will headline the Sundance Next Fest summer festival August 7-10 in Los Angeles. Next Fest, headquartered at the Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, celebrates the intersection of film and music and the renegade spirit of independent artists. Tickets ($15-25) go on sale to Sundance Institute members today and all others tomorrow at sundance.org/next

In addition to a 10th Anniversary screening of "Napoleon Dynamite" with Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as the festival’s kickoff event on August 7, Next Fest will present the Los Angeles premieres of six films that first screened at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and offer unfettered creativity and fresh perspectives. The program features a zombie love story, an Iranian-set vampire movie, a modern tale of buried treasure, a thriller about a mysterious soldier, and films that explore the perils of artistic ambition amongst gang life in Watts and the literary world of New York respectively.

Each film screens once at the Theatre at Ace Hotel August 8-10 and will be paired with either a special music act that shares a complementary artistic sensibility or conversations that bring together filmmakers with those who inspired them. The Sundance Film Festival programming staff selected the films and music acts for Next Fest.

The festival is an extension of the popular Next <=> section at the Sundance Film Festival, which showcases stylistically adventurous and bold films, and builds on the Institute’s Next Weekend event, hosted in 2013.

John Cooper , Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, “Next Fest is a continuation of our efforts to connect film-loving audiences with the next generation of independent filmmakers. The unique convergence of film and music enhances the experience of each and offers fresh insight into the talent and vision of these outstanding independent artists.”

Trevor Groth , Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “In the heart of one of the most creative cities in the world, Next Fest will launch a new wave of film and music talent into the artistic atmosphere. The Theatre at Ace Hotel, with its roots in cinematic trailblazing, will serve as the ideal hub for this cultural adventure.”

Sundance Institute members have access to a host of benefits related to Next Fest, including the ability to purchase tickets today, before they go on sale to the general public tomorrow. At the August 7 screening with Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, members will enjoy a reserved seating section and receive an exclusive tote bag, screenprinted live at the event by Hit + Run. Members are also invited to a special party during Next Fest and are eligible to win a prize package including a three-night stay at the Ace Hotel plus airfare. For more information visit Here

The film schedule is as follows:

Thursday, August 7,

Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery

"Napoleon Dynamite" (Director: Jared Hess, Screenwriters: Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess) — From the rural town of Preston, Idaho, comes Napoleon Dynamite – a new kind of hero. He spends his days drawing magical beasts, working on his computer hacking skills to impress the chicks, and begrudgingly feeding his Grandma's pet llama. When his friend Pedro runs for class president, Napoleon helps him triumph over adversity. The film premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Cast: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Efren Ramirez. Special guests to be announced. 10th Anniversary Screening

Friday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Life After Beth" / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she mysteriously returns, he gets a second chance at love. Soon his whole world turns upside down... Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser. Los Angeles Premiere

Father John Misty — Father John Misty is the charismatic singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer who released his debut album, Fear Fun in 2012 to universal praise. The acclaim, emboldened by his incredible live show, led to multiple sold-out tours and high profile TV performances on Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is currently at work on his follow up, due in early 2015. Next Fest will feature a solo acoustic performance.

Saturday, August 9, 1:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter" / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi. Winner of a U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Musical Score at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director David Zellner and co-screenwriter Nathan Zellner with a special guest to be announced.

Saturday, August 9, 4:45 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Listen Up Philip"/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry) — A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol's daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York. Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director Alex Ross Perry and Jason Schwartzman with a special guest to be announced.

Saturday, August 9, 8:30 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"Imperial Dreams" / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic ) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds. Winner of the Audience Award: Best of Next <=> at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Los Angeles Premiere

Tinashe : Tinashe does everything on her own terms. The stunning 21-year-old singer, songwriter and performer arrives with a distinct and dynamic vision of R&B punctuated by hip-hop attitude, pop flavor, rock swagger and electronica spark. It all comes to life vividly on Aquarius, her forthcoming full-length debut on RCA Records.

Sunday, August 10, 4:00 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

"The Guest" / U.S.A. (Director: Adam Wingard, Screenwriter: Simon Barrett) — A soldier on leave arrives at the home of a fallen comrade. Friendly and helpful, they welcome him in, but when people start mysteriously dying in town, mayhem ensues as their teenage daughter starts wondering if he’s responsible. Cast: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Leland Orser, Lance Reddick, Chase Williamson, Brendan Meyer. Los Angeles Premiere

Followed by a conversation between director Adam Wingard and a special guest to be announced.

Sunday, August 10, 7:45 p.m.

Theatre at Ace Hotel

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour) — In the Iranian ghost town of Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, depraved denizens are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, Milad Eghbali. Los Angeles Premiere

Warpaint — Warpaint was formed in 2004 and comprises Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Jenny Lee Lindberg and Stella Mozgawa. They recently released their self-titled second album to rave reviews. Rolling Stone described it as, “The perfect backdrop for your next midnight séance or moonlit dance party” and W Magazine said, “If the La band’s first album was the sonic equivalent of falling into happy slumber, then its newly released follow-up is a beautifully lucid dream...

Gosh! To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Napoleon Dynamite (and promote the film's new "10 Sweet Years" Blu-Ray), Fox Searchlight reunited the cast for a special screening of their absurdist sleeper comedy on Monday, June 9th. Jon Heder, who played the socially awkward title character, was in attendance – along with a hideous bronze statue of the iconic nerd, decked out in moonboots and his classic "Vote For Pedro" T-shirt. Fox Searchlight shared pictures of the terrifying statue on their Facebook, and the results are nearly as memorable as Napoleon's liger drawing.

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since "Napoleon Dynamite's" theatrical debut. "Gosh!"To celebrate the big milestone, Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Pedro (Efren Ramirez), Deb (Tina Majorino), Summer Wheatley (Haylie Duff), Grandma (Sandy Martin), Lafawnduh (Shondrella Avery) and Rex (Diedrich Bader) came together at the 20th Century Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles on Monday for a panel discussion.The cast also posed for pictures with a commemorative bronze statue of Napoleon wearing his iconic outfit, complete with his "Vote For Pedro" T-shirt, high-waisted jeans and moonboots.  Unfortunately, Jon Gries (aka Uncle Rico) and Aaron Ruell (Kip) were Mia. But, there was an unexpected special guest there: Tina, the llama!  The offbeat, coming-of-age comedy came out on June 11, 2004 and became a hit thanks to its quirky characters and memorable one-liners ("Can I have some of your tots?") "We recognized early on that Napoleon Dynamite was made with a ton of heart,...

There are plenty of amazing mustaches in movie history, and in honor of Movember, we thought we'd list our ten all-time favorites. From the thin hipster ‘stache, to the handlebar, to the walrus, take a look at the best soup strainers to ever grace the silver screen.

10. Kip’s pencil ‘stache in Napoleon Dynamite

Why does Lafawnduh love Aaron Ruell's Kip always and forever? It's true that he has mad skills when it comes to chatting with babes online, but far more importantly, he has some truly incredible face lace. That has to be the reason he got the girl in the end. Kip proves that the shortest route to a happily ever after is a straight line — right above your upper lip.

9. Mr. Potato Head's nose neighbor in Toy Story

Mr. Potato Head certainly has the mustache that is most likely to go missing, but it always keeps...

Network: Fox

Episodes: Six (half-hour)

Seasons: One

TV show dates: January 15, 2012 -- March 4, 2012

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Sandy Martin, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, and Diedrich Bader.

TV show description:

Based on the cult-classic movie, this animated TV series follows the comic adventures of America's most awesomely awkward teenager and his offbeat family and friends as they navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

Napoleon Dynamite Napoleon (Jon Heder) is a 16-year-old boy who's convinced (for no apparent reason) that he's destined for greatness and blessed with an unlimited number of "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing, and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" (whom no one has ever seen). Whether he's facing down bullies or discovering the meaning of friendship, Napoleon...

The movie may be a cult favorite but the Napoleon Dynamite TV show wasn't popular enough for Fox. They've cancelled the animated series after one season.

Napoleon Dynamite follows the continuing mis-adventures of "America's most awesomely awkward teenager" and his quirky family and friends in rural Idaho. The voice cast includes Aaron Ruell, Diedrich Bader, Efran Ramirez, Jon Gries, Jon Heder, Sandy Martin, and Tina Majorino.

The series debuted on January 15th with a very healthy 4.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 8.31 million viewers. It benefited greatly from a lead-in from The Simpsons and an NFL game before that.

The second episode dropped like a rock by 25% in the all-important demo. The next two weeks fell a whopping 36% and then another 14% after that -- to a 1.8 in the demo with 3.81 million viewers. Had...

From creators/executive producers Jared and Jerusha Hess, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series on Fox, based on the hit film and following the comic adventures of America’s most awesomely awkward teenager and his offbeat family and friends, as they navigate small-town life in rural Idaho. With the original cast of the film (including Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Sandy Martin and Diedrich Bader) back to voice their roles, the first set of episodes also features an impressive guest cast with Amy Poehler, Jennifer Coolidge, Sam Rockwell and Jemaine Clement. While at the TCA Winter Press Tour, Jared and Jerusha Hess sat down with Collider for this exclusive interview and talked about how the animated series came about, how excited the cast was to reprise their roles, how freeing it was to be able to do anything with the story in an animated version,...

The "Napoleon Dynamite" (Sun., 8:30Pm on Fox) series premiere welcomed fans back to the wacky world of the Dynamite family. And this time, they're animated.

In an effort to banish his unsightly acne, high school student Napoleon (Jon Heder) turns to a banned skin cream.

However, the side effects mean that he becomes super strong and full of rage, and the formerly mild-mannered 16 year old goes ahead and steals the lovely Misty (Amy Poehler) away from older brother -- and cage-fighting enthusiast -- Kip (Aaron Ruell).

Unfortunately for Napoleon, Kip figures out his secret and turns the tables on him. So the Dynamite siblings end up fighting each other for the hand of Misty ... in a cage, natch.

A surprisingly ripped Kip, face a-blazing, goes all "Thunderdome" on his little brother and shows off some fancy moves, leaving Napoleon to question, "When the heck did you learn to walk on stilts?...

The "Napoleon Dynamite" (Sun., 8:30Pm on Fox) series premiere welcomed fans back to the wacky world of the Dynamite family. And this time, they're animated.

In an effort to banish his unsightly acne, high school student Napoleon (Jon Heder) turns to a banned skin cream.

However, the side effects mean that he becomes super strong and full of rage, and the formerly mild-mannered 16 year old goes ahead and steals the lovely Misty (Amy Poehler) away from older brother -- and cage-fighting enthusiast -- Kip (Aaron Ruell).

Unfortunately for Napoleon, Kip figures out his secret and turns the tables on him. So the Dynamite siblings end up fighting each other for the hand of Misty ... in a cage, natch.

A surprisingly ripped Kip, face a-blazing, goes all "Thunderdome" on his little brother and shows off some fancy moves, leaving Napoleon to question, "When the heck did you learn to walk on stilts?...

The "Napoleon Dynamite" (Sun., 8:30Pm on Fox) series premiere welcomed fans back to the wacky world of the Dynamite family. And this time, they're animated.

In an effort to banish his unsightly acne, high school student Napoleon (Jon Heder) turns to a banned skin cream.

However, the side effects mean that he becomes super strong and full of rage, and the formerly mild-mannered 16 year old goes ahead and steals the lovely Misty (Amy Poehler) away from older brother -- and cage-fighting enthusiast -- Kip (Aaron Ruell).

Unfortunately for Napoleon, Kip figures out his secret and turns the tables on him. So the Dynamite siblings end up fighting each other for the hand of Misty ... in a cage, natch.

A surprisingly ripped Kip, face a-blazing, goes all "Thunderdome" on his little brother and shows off some fancy moves, leaving Napoleon to question, "When the heck did you learn to walk on stilts?...

It's been nearly eight years since Napoleon Dynamite hit the big-screen. The characters were somewhat cartoonish but were fans of the live-action cult classic really looking for an animated TV series sequel?

Napoleon Dynamite follows the adventures of an awkward teenager (Jon Heder) and his family and friends in a small-town in rural Idaho. The original castmembers reprising their roles from the film include Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader.

Is this new TV series worth your time? Here's what the critics are saying:

La Times: "It appears to be aimed squarely at a tween and early teen audience, making it a rare bird among 'grown-up' animated shows. South Park, Family Guy and even The Simpsons have forced parents, already burdened by the dilemmas of social media, to agonize over when their kids...

Fans of the 2004 movie "Napoleon Dynamite" are a select, fiercely loyal set. They are also somewhat of a niche audience, which might make it a tough proposition as a crossover animation hit in the best possible scenario. Sadly, Sunday's (Jan. 15) series premiere of "Napoleon Dynamite" on Fox is not the best possible scenario.

Don't get us wrong. We wanted this show to be a success because we liked the movie and everyone attached to it -- most of whom are along for the animated ride, too. Jon Heder (Napoleon) is here, along with Jon Gries (Uncle Rico), Aaron Ruell (Kip), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and the incomparable Diedrich Bader (Rex). Not to mention Tina Majorino (Deb) and Sandy Martin (Grandma).

Part of the unexpected genius of the movie was the deadpan delivery from the actors -- much of the humor was visual. Sadly, it doesn't translate to animation -- at least not this animation.

The 2012 TV mid-season has begun and it's shaping up to be an intriguing one. There's the ABC adventure drama "The River"; the NBC comedy "Are You There, Chelsea?"; J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated "Alcatraz" on Fox, and more.

Check out these 13 new shows to watch out for!

2012 Mid-Season New Shows'The River' (ABC, Feb. 7)

Who: Bruce Greenwood, Joe Anderson, Leslie Hope, Eloise MumfordWhat: The show follows the story of wildlife expert and TV personality Emmet Cole.

To celebrate the series premiere of Fox's new animated comedy Napoleon Dynamite, the network will partner with a local radio station and Kttv to encourage fans to come down to the Hollywood and Highland complex to do their best Napoleon Dynamite character impressions.

The cast, including Jon Heder, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, and Sandy Martin, will be on hand to judge the competition.

The grand prizewinner will receive their likeness drawn as a character from Napoleon Dynamite, photo op with the cast and cash prizes. Everyone who participates will receive (and wear!!) a Freakin Sweet Napoleon Dynamite t-shirt and passerby's will be able to grab a free bite from the Tater Tot and Quesadilla food truck, Rex Kwon Do Demonstration, get creative at Deb's Arts & Crafts station, and take a photo in front of a llama for electronic upload to facebook/twitter.

This event will take...

Napoleon Dynamite was without a doubt the sleeper hit of 2004, and a new animated series based on the original film is coming soon. The cast from the film - Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader - will return to voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way. Official synopsis: Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho. Embedded below are the trailer and a few clips that were released at Comic-Con this year....

[1] A few months ago we showed you the first trailer [2] for Napoleon Dynamite: The Animated Series, which offered a brief glimpse at the new show. At this year's Comic-Con, Fox brought out several clips to give the audience a better taste of what to expect. Based on 2004's sleeper hit indie, the new show will see all of the main cast from the movie -- Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries, and Diedrich Bader -- revisiting the now-animated town of Preston, Idaho to lend their voices to their cartoon counterparts. Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess, who created the film, are executive producing along with Mike Scully (The Simpsons). Watch the clips after the jump. And here's the trailer: [Clips via Geek Tyrant [3]] I'm of two minds about this show. On the one hand, as Germain pointed out [4], the characters from the original Napoleon Dynamite were "pretty much animated already,...

Comic-Con is over, and though we all couldn't make it, we can all get plenty of tastes of the excitement. Fox was out in full force at the event, and several shows were there chatting up fans, including some newcomers to the fall schedule.

Glee didn't quite have the A-List in attendance, and Terra Nova took over with the trailer of all solar-powered zaniness, but overall, fans appear to have had a great time no matter what show they were most interested in.

Fringe was a hit, with all the stars showing up, and much talk about Joshua Jackson, and shows like Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite had the right names to be instant hits at the Con, even if the potential for the shows is still up in the air.

At any rate, I have a round-up for you of clips and images, just to give you a taste of what went on,...

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Are we all ready to go ahead and admit that despite all the backlash, Napoleon Dynamite was pretty damn funny? We are? Fantastic, because frankly, we're all good and ready for more non-jokes about ligers, what skills a man should have and shockingly competent dancing in an indeterminate time period.

Dyna-Heads (that's what we agreed to call ourselves at Napole-Con 2007) will have to wait until 2012 to see the new animated series based on the cult film, but we attended the Napoleon Dynamite panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2011 to hear from the film's stars Jon Heder, Tina Majorino, Efren Ramirez and more. Here's what we learned:

Ramirez opened the panel by speaking in his Pedro-voice to copious amounts of applause. The panel also featured Mike Scully (The Simpsons), who is the producer of the new show. Scully tried to play a voicemail from Jared and Jerusha Hess,...

Fox has ordered additional scripts for its new animated comedies Napoleon Dynamite and Allen Gregory. Napoleon Dynamite is a follow-up to the 2004 film of the same name and will feature the voice talents of the original cast, including Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), Aaron Ruell (Kip) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). Seven new scripts have been ordered for the series, according to Vulture. The film's director Jared Hess and his co-writer wife Jerusha will serve as producers (more)...

I know this is a little off the beaten path, but this movie always makes me laugh and we love Jared Hess around these parts.

Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite this new animated series follows the continuing adventures of America's most awesomely awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

The original cast from the film - Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader - will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

Synopsis:

Napoleon Dynamite is a 16-year-old boy convinced - for no apparent reason - that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" whom nobody has ever seen.

Remember that little film that could? Were you craving for further adventures in Preston, Idaho with the Napoleon Dynamite gang and perhaps wishfully thinking there could be a sequel any day now? Your prayers are answered (sort of)! In 2010 it was announced that an animated series spinoff of the film was in the works on the Fox network and all of the original cast was set to return including Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efran Ramirez (Pedro), Aaron Ruell (Kip), Tina Majorino (Deb), Diedrich Bader (Rex) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). This week at a TV Upfronts press conference to reveal their Fall schedule, Fox unveiled a trailer and is the first look at what to expect in the new series. The show is set to debut midseason (first quarter of 2012). The official press release and trailer below!

Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series that follows the...

You know, you don't have to be a frickin' idiot to appreciate Napoleon Dynamite. There's something oddly charming about his off-kilter brand of slow-witted humor that was born for the animated medium.

Well, wait no longer! For the trailer, anyway. The latest look to come out of Fox's upfront presentation is the first glance at the animated adaptation of Napoleon Dynamite, which hits the airwaves in midseason and impressively boasts the entire f#$king original cast of the film!

Additionally, the first season will include guest spots from Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie), Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2), and Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords).

Check out the official press release from Fox, and save your judgement til you watch the trailer below!

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Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family...

Based on the hit film, 'Napoleon Dynamite' is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

The original cast from the film – Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader – will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

'Napoleon Dynamite' (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced – for no apparent reason – that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited “sweet abilities.” He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his “girlfriend in Oklahoma” whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon’s brother, Kip (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for...

Based on the hit film, Napoleon Dynamite is an animated series that follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho. The original cast from the film – Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader – will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way. Guest voices in the debut season include Jennifer Coolidge (“American Pie,” “Legally Blonde”), Sam Rockwell (“Choke”) and Jemaine Clement (“Flight of the Conchords”). Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced – for no apparent reason – that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited “sweet abilities...

Fox has unveiled the trailer for its "Napoleon Dynamite" animated TV series, which features voices of the original cast from the film (Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries, Diedrich Bader). Check it out below. Plot: Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a 16-year-old boy convinced . for no apparent reason . that he is destined for greatness and blessed with unlimited "sweet abilities." He spends his days practicing ninja moves, drawing ligers, soul dancing and bragging about his "girlfriend in Oklahoma" whom nobody has ever seen. Napoleon's brother, Kip (Ruell), is an unemployed 32-year-old who lives at home and believes he would be an amazing catch for any girl who would respond to his online come-ons. The Dynamite brothers live with Grandma (Martin), a crusty woman who can often be found four-wheeling with her lady friends at the local sand dunes. Napoleon's allies include Pedro (Ramirez...

We should have read about this sometime after 2004, but not in 2011. 20th Century Fox is developing an animated television series based on the 2004 Fox Searchlight film Napoleon Dynamite, which won’t air to mid-2012(!), but has a teaser trailer out now.

The original cast from the film – Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries and Diedrich Bader – will voice their characters in the series, and many new characters will be added along the way.

Thoughts?

Source: /Film...

Fox has released the first promo trailer for the upcoming Napoleon Dynamite animated series. The show is based on the film and pretty much everyone that was involved with the original movie is involved with this TV new series. Jared Hess, Jerusha Hess and Mike Scully are all involved with the creation and the voices of the characters will be provided by Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite, Aaron Ruell as Kip, Efren Ramirez as Pedro, Tina Majorino as Deb, Sandy Martin as Grandma, Jon Gries as Uncle Rico and Diedrich Bader as Rex. The series follows the continuing adventures of America’s most awesome awkward teenager and his quirky family and friends as they struggle to navigate small-town life in rural Idaho.

I enjoyed the movie a lot, and I thought it would translate extremely well to an animated series, but this trailer falls flat, and fails to impress. The...

[1] Last May it was announced [2] that 20th Century Fox was developing an animated television series based on the 2004 Fox Searchlight film Napoleon Dynamite. A year later, Fox has released the first trailer for the upcoming series, Napoleon Dynamite: The Animated Series. The one minute promo is only a teaser, as the series won't air until Midseason 2012. Looks pretty much like you would expect, the question is: Is it still funny or are they capitalizing on the popularity of the 2004 indie a little too late? Watch the promo trailer now embedded after the jump. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Trailer: Creators/Executive Producers Jared Hess Jerusha Hess Mike Scully Voice Cast Jon Heder as Napoleon Dynamite Aaron Ruell as Kip Efren Ramirez as Pedro Tina Majorino as Deb Sandy Martin as Grandma Jon Gries as Uncle Rico Diedrich Bader as Rex Official Plot Info: Based on the hit film,...

Fox has released all the upcoming video previews for their new shows that will air this fall. If you’d like to know when they are on then check out our previous article with all the 2011-2012 TV shows that will hit later this year. You can also see where your favorite returning shows will be.

When San Francisco Police Department Det. Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones, “Sons of Anarchy”) is assigned to a grisly homicide case, a fingerprint leads her to a shocking suspect: Jack Sylvane (guest star Jeffrey Pierce, “The Nine”), a former Alcatraz inmate who died decades ago. Given her family history – both her grandfather and surrogate uncle, Ray Archer (Robert Forster, “Jackie Brown”), were guards at the prison – Madsen’s interest is immediately piqued, and once the enigmatic, knows-everything-but-tells-nothing government agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill, “Jurassic Park”) tries to impede her investigation, she’s doggedly committed. Madsen...

Fox enters the ring on the new year schedules, and they have a few interesting items on the agenda. Check out all the info below.

Launching this fall is the highly anticipated singing competition series The X Factor, which marks the return of Simon Cowell to Fox. Cowell, along with Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Cheryl Cole and Paula Abdul, will judge the U.S. version of the international television phenomenon that will award an unprecedented $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music to the next global superstar or breakout music group.

Epic family adventure series Terra Nova, executive-produced by Steven Spielberg (“Saving Private Ryan,” “Jurassic Park”), Peter Chernin, René Echevarria (“Castle,” “The 4400”) and Brannon Braga (“24”) and starring Jason O’Mara (“Life On Mars”) and Stephen Lang (“Avatar”), premieres in the fall. The ambitious series follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as...

Fox has release it's full primetime schedule for Fall 2011-12. This includes new shows such as Terra Nova, New Girl, The X-Factor, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, the animated Napoleon Dynamite series and J.J. Abrams Alcatraz which is my most anticipated of all the new series. Below you will find the full schedule along with a synopsis for each new TV series. Check it out and tell us what shows you are most looking forward to.

Fox Fall 2011 Primetime Schedule

(All Times Et/Pt)

Monday

8:00-9:00 Pm Terra Nova (new)

9:00-10:00 Pm House

Tuesday

8:00-9:00 Pm Glee

9:00-9:30 Pm New Girl (wt) (new)

9:30-10:00 Pm Raising Hope

Wednesday

8:00-9:30 Pm The X Factor Performance Show (new)

9:30-10:00 Pm I Hate My Teenage Daughter (wt) (new)

Thursday

8:00-9:00 Pm The X Factor Results Show (new...

The Fall TV Season presentations for all the new network shows take place this week with second announced today. Here's a full breakdown of which concepts have made the list over on Fox.

Aiming to stop the ratings slide that takes place when "American Idol" isn't on, Fox laid waste last week to practically every show that wasn't majorly performing on its schedule, though the fate of "Breaking In" remains in question right now. They're also betting big on the new take of Simon Cowell's "The X Factor" in the Fall - hoping it will perform as well or better than the now Cowell-less "American Idol" does in the Spring.

They're also using the Fall to launch arguably the single biggest show of the new season - "Terra Nova". The lavishly expensive series about future humanity living in a colony in the prehistoric past is not just being touted...

Monday-saurus!

Fox revealed its fall and midseason schedule this morning which includes Steven Spielberg’s dino-drama Terra Nova on Mondays and The X-Factor taking over the American Idol slots on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Glee will continue to rule Tuesdays, leading into freshman comedy New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel and the return of Raising Hope. New comedy I Hate My Teenage Daughter will have a Factor lead-in on Wednesday while Bones will continue to have a singing competition opening act on Thursdays. All told, four new comedies and three dramas will join Fox next season, replacing cancelled titles like Human Target and Lie to Me.

20th Century Fox has ordered six episodes of an animated adaptation of 2004’s sleeper hit Napoleon Dynamite.

The series, in development since May, will feature the voices of several original cast members, including Jon Hader (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Aaron Ruell (Kip), and one again center on the socially-awkward teenager in Idaho. The original writers, Jared and Jerusha Hess, are working on the series with former “Simpsons” show-runner Mike Scully, according to Vulture.

What a fresh, timely idea. I give it a full season, at the absolute most, before it’s chucked in the failure pile next to short-lived shows “Friday: The Animated Series,” “Little Shop,” “Clerks: The Animated Series,” and any other cult films made into awful cartoons. Then again, this is Fox, where quality shows like “Arrested Devleopment” and “Lonestar” are canceled to make room for more “American Idol.”

Fox also ordered seven episodes of “Allen Gregory,...

Fox has decided to pick up a cartoon version of the 2004 indie hit "Napoleon Dynamite." All of the actors from the film are expected to reprise their roles in voiceover form, including Jon Heder (Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro), Aaron Ruell (Kip), and Jon Gries as Uncle Rico. Hoping that people will actually remember the movie (and all the obnoxious quotes that came with it) they have made a six-episode commitment, reuniting the film's writer-director team Jared and Jerusha Hess for the project. "The Simpsons" alum Mike Scully has also come onboard as head...

Fox has picked up 6 episodes of the new animated TV series "Napoleon Dynamite", adapting the 2004 feature.

Voice cast includes original "Napoleon Dynamite" actor Jon Heder, for writer/director Jared Hess, working from a script by his wife Jerusha Hess and "The Simpsons" writer Mike Scully.

The original "Napoleon Dynamite" comedy feature, filmed in Pennsylvania, was co-written/directed by Jared and Jerusha Hess.

"...From Preston, Idaho comes 'Napoleon Dynamite' (Heder), a new kind of hero complete with a tight red 'fro, some choice moon boots, and skills that can't be topped. Napoleon spends his days drawing mythical beasts, duking it out with his 32-year-old brother 'Kip' (Aaron Ruell) and avoiding his 'Uncle Rico' (Jon Gries), a door-to-door salesman who's mentally stuck in 1982 - the year his football team "almost won state."

"But when two new friends are brought into his life - 'Deb' (Tina Majorino), the artisan behind the 'boondoggle key chain',...

Jon Heder is returning to his comfort zone. While he dropped out of a Will Ferrell-produced pilot for Comedy Central earlier this year, the actor will be lending his voice to Napoleon Dynamite, an animated series based on the 2004 cult-favorite comedy. Fox has ordered up six episodes of the half-hour sitcom and the original main cast is said to be onboard for voice work. The O.G. players included Efren Ramirez as Pedro, Tina Majorino as Deb, Aaron Ruell as Kip and Jon Gries as Uncle Rico. If Fox handles its bow staff right, this could be a sweet show.