A cult classic comedy film fans have called ‘quirky and offbeat’ is now available to watch in the UK for free.
Released in 2004, the American coming-of-age movie Napoleon Dynamite starred Jon Heder as the titular character, a nerdy high-school student from Idaho facing ‘befriending an immigrant who wants to be class president, awkwardly pursuing a romance with a fellow student, and living with his quirky family’.
Loosely based on the real-life experiences of writer and director Jared Hess, it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. Made on a budget of just $400,000 (£308,000), it grossed $46.1 million (£35 million) worldwide.
When it was released, critics and audiences lapped up the quirky storyline and stand-out one-liners (who can forget Napoleon addressing his pet llama: ‘Tina, you fat lard, come get some DINNER!’).
‘A little movie with a lot of heart and a lot of laughs,’ the New York Post wrote in its review.
‘I laughed. And I laughed primarily over Heder’s hilarious performance,’ The Washington Post shared.
‘It’s one of a kind, and kind of a masterpiece,’ The Boston Phoenix added.
Meanwhile viewers said it was a ‘one of a kind’ and ‘memorable’ watch that ‘gradually wins you over’.
This week it was released on Channel 4, with fans able to tune into the film again for free.
After the success of the film, in 2012 an animated series was released, with the original cast also reprising their roles. However, it was then cancelled after six episodes.
Despite this disappointment, there has been talks of a sequel over the past few years.
‘I feel like the future for Napoleon would be a lot more raw and edgy. So, whatever he comes up with would be fun to explore, because I think whatever Jared comes up with wouldn’t be your typical, ‘Let’s do a sequel where they all look the same and they all act the same.’ I think it would be an interesting development in their lives,’ Jon previously said.
In 2023 he also added he believed a sequel was ‘inevitable’ and later said ‘the door is not closed yet’.
Napoleon Dynamite is streaming on Channel 4.
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