Napoleon Dynamite
Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 36
  3. Negative: 2 out of 36
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    There is a kind of studied stupidity that sometimes passes as humor, and Jared Hess' Napoleon Dynamite pushes it as far as it can go.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    30
    If Napoleon Dynamite really is, as reported, a semiautobiographical exercise, it is one of the most astoundingly self-hating such exercises in memory.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 525 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 295 out of 375
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 375
  3. Negative: 66 out of 375
  1. MannyC.
    2
    What gets me is how this thing killed at Sundance?!? What a terrible, unnessessary, boring self-degrading film. Jared Hess is a loser, Jon Heder is a loser and will never act again. Cheap, unapolagetic writing; sorry and tired sight gags. Tim P. gave this a ten "becasue were all dorks". Tim even dorks need a plot, and a reason to be dorks. Dorks also need a supporting cast and something better to do than help Mexican dorks. We're all dorks, but were all not Napoleon Dynamite, and we all dont concern ourselves with sorry talk show guests of people, and while we all may be dorks, my and probably even your movie wouldnt suck as much as this one does. … Full Review »
  2. brad
    4
    Not that funny, not that clever. Laughed only once. Disjointed, boring story.
  3. grandpajoe6191
    6
    The movie's decent, that's all.
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