Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
- Synopsis:
- Quirky, retro-styled hit indie comedy about a high-school outcast and his eccentric friends and family. Helping a fellow misfit run for class president, Napoleon develops his own special skills.
- Starring:
- Jon Heder, Jon Gries
- Director:
- Jared Hess
- Rated:
- PG
28 handpicked matches for Napoleon Dynamite
Scroll over a movie for more information about the match. Click "Compare" to see a side-by-side comparison of our clerk's recommendation with your starting movie.
-
Rushmore (1999)
Rushmore is a Close match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Equally original chronicle of eccentric prep-schooler's struggles with academia and romance.
- Starring:
- Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray
- Director:
- Wes Anderson
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 93
-
Rushmore
(1999) (R)
Equally Offbeat
-
Rushmore (1999)
Rushmore is a Close match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Equally original chronicle of eccentric prep-schooler's struggles with academia and romance.
- Starring:
- Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray
- Director:
- Wes Anderson
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 93
-
Welcome to the Dollhouse
(1996) (R)
Darker
-
Darker
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996)
Welcome to the Dollhouse is a Close match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Darker Solondz comedy about a misfit high-school girl's social tribulations.
- Starring:
- Heather Matarazzo, Daria Kalinina
- Director:
- Todd Solondz
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 87
-
Nacho Libre
(2006) (PG)
Similar Feel
-
Similar Feel
Nacho Libre (2006)
Nacho Libre is a Close match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Second feature by "Napoleon Dynamite" director stars Jack Black as an aspiring wrestler in Mexico.
- Starring:
- Jack Black, Ana de la Reguera
- Director:
- Jared Hess
- Rated:
- PG
- Runtime:
- 91
-
Little Miss Sunshine
(2006) (R)
Similar Theme
-
Similar Theme
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Little Miss Sunshine is a Close match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Faster paced, more mainstream ensemble comedy centered around an underdog contestant.
- Starring:
- Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell
- Director:
- Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 102
-
Ghost World
(2001) (R)
More Serious
-
More Serious
Ghost World (2001)
Ghost World is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: More serious yet quirky depiction of post-adolescent awkwardness. Based on the acclaimed graphic novel.
- Starring:
- Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson
- Director:
- Terry Jönsson
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 111
-
Juno
(2007) (PG-13)
More Acerbic
-
More Acerbic
Juno (2007)
Juno is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: More acerbic teen anchors this equally unique portrait of a high-school oddball. Similar quirky charm.
- Starring:
- Ellen Page, Michael Cera
- Director:
- Jason Reitman
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 96
-
Election
(1999) (R)
Faster
-
Faster
Election (1999)
Election is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Quicker-paced, more pointed high-school comedy uses class election for political satire.
- Starring:
- Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon
- Director:
- Alexander Payne
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 103
-
The Foot Fist Way
(2006) (R)
More Low-Key
-
More Low-Key
The Foot Fist Way (2006)
The Foot Fist Way is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Fred Simmons (Danny R. McBride), a bombastic but hopelessly inept master of a strip-mall dojo, falls to pieces upon discovering his wife's (Mary Jane Bostic) infidelity. Hoping to rebuild his shattered self-respect, he sets out on a quest to meet his longtime movie idol, Chuck ``The Truck'' Wallace (Ben Best), star of the ``Seven Rings of Pain'' trilogy.
- Starring:
- Danny McBride, Mary Bostic
- Director:
- Jody Hill
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 87
-
American Movie
(1999) (R)
More Fact-Based
-
More Fact-Based
American Movie (1999)
American Movie is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Producer Chris Smith chronicles Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt's artistic and financial struggles.
- Starring:
- Mark Borchardt, Tom Schimmels
- Director:
- Chris Smith
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 107
-
Harold and Maude
(1971) (PG)
More Romance
-
More Romance
Harold and Maude (1971)
Harold and Maude is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Black-comic cult favorite has similarly individualistic characters, more focus on romance.
- Starring:
- Bud Cort, Ruth Gordon
- Director:
- Hal Ashby
- Rated:
- PG
- Runtime:
- 91
-
Step Brothers
(2008) (R)
More Mean-Spirited
-
More Mean-Spirited
Step Brothers (2008)
Step Brothers is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) have one thing in common: they are both lazy, unemployed leeches who still live with their parents. When Brennan's mother and Dale's father marry and move in together, it turns the overgrown boys' world upside down. Their insane rivalry and narcissism pull the new family apart, forcing them to work together to reunite their parents.
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
- Director:
- Adam McKay
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 95
-
Best in Show
(2000) (PG-13)
More Improvised
-
More Improvised
Best in Show (2000)
Best in Show is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Dry-humored mockumentary follows show pooches and their eccentric human companions as they prepare for glory at a national dog show.
- Starring:
- Michael Hitchcock, Parker Posey
- Director:
- Christopher Guest
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 90
-
Eagle vs. Shark
(2007) (R)
More Romance
-
More Romance
Eagle vs. Shark (2007)
Eagle vs. Shark is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: More specifically romantic New Zealand comedy with similar quirky tone and characters.
- Starring:
- Loren Horsley, Jemaine Clement
- Director:
- Taika Cohen
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 94
-
The Chumscrubber
(2005) (R)
More Personal
-
More Personal
The Chumscrubber (2005)
The Chumscrubber is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- In this darkly humorous parody of high school life in suburbia--other teen films of this genre are DONNIE DARKO and HEATHERS--Dean (Jamie Bell) is beside himself when two of his best friends wind up dead--and nobody in the selfishly aloof world around him seems to notice, or care.
- Starring:
- Ralph Fiennes, Jamie Bell
- Director:
- Arie Posin
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 107
-
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Bur...
(2004) (PG-13)
As Ridiculous
-
As Ridiculous
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- A polyester-clad, '70s-era playboy news anchor falls in love with an ambitious new female reporter, only to declare war on her when she is promoted to co-anchor.
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate
- Director:
- Adam McKay
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 95
-
Better Off Dead
(1985) (PG)
As Quirky
-
As Quirky
Better Off Dead (1985)
Better Off Dead is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Quirky, surreal 1980s cult comedy about a lovelorn teen who futilely tries to kill himself after a painful breakup, then falls for a pretty French exchange student. Memorable early role for Cusack.
- Starring:
- John Cusack, Diane Franklin
- Director:
- Savage Steve Holland
- Rated:
- PG
- Runtime:
- 98
-
Pretty in Pink
(1986) (PG-13)
More Mainstream
-
More Mainstream
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Pretty in Pink is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Hughes' romantic comedy details the rigors of high-school misfits. A social-outcast classic.
- Starring:
- Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer
- Director:
- Howard Deutch
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 96
-
The Squid and the Whale
(2005) (R)
Much Darker
-
Much Darker
The Squid and the Whale (2005)
The Squid and the Whale is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Sharp, witty, seriocomic drama focusing on the impact of a New York intellectual parents' divorce on two brothers during the '80s. The compassion to all of its characters makes this a gem.
- Starring:
- Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney
- Director:
- Noah Baumbach
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 80
-
Thumbsucker
(2005) (R)
Less Humorous
-
Less Humorous
Thumbsucker (2005)
Thumbsucker is a Creative match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- A moody teenager who deals with stress by sucking his thumb finds that his life changes drastically when he starts taking medicine for ADD. Strong performances make this quirky indie dramedy a standout.
- Starring:
- Lou Taylor Pucci, Tilda Swinton
- Director:
- Mike Mills
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 95
-
Hot Rod
(2007) (PG-13)
Similar Characters
-
Similar Characters
Hot Rod (2007)
Hot Rod is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- For Rod Kimball (Andy Samberg), performing stunts is a way of life, even though he is rather accident-prone. Poor Rod cannot even get any respect from his stepfather, Frank (Ian McShane), who beats him up in weekly sparring matches. When Frank falls ill, Rod devises his most outrageous stunt yet to raise money for Frank's operation -- and then Rod will kick Frank's butt.
- Starring:
- Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone
- Director:
- Akiva Schaffer
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 88
-
Bubble Boy
(2001) (PG-13)
Loopier Humor
-
Loopier Humor
Bubble Boy (2001)
Bubble Boy is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
Our Clerk Says: Loopier underdog comedy with similar can-do spirit. Weirdly endearing, peculiar love-it-or-hate-it romp.
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Swoosie Kurtz
- Director:
- Blair Hayes
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 84
-
The Graduate
(1967) (PG)
More Literary
-
More Literary
The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- After you've been seduced by an older married woman, how do you convince her daughter to marry you? This quintessential Oscar-winning dramedy features Simon & Garfunkel's classic, "Mrs. Robinson."
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft
- Director:
- Mike Nichols
- Rated:
- PG
- Runtime:
- 105
-
Blades of Glory
(2007) (PG-13)
Same Star
-
Same Star
Blades of Glory (2007)
Blades of Glory is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Figure skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell) and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) take their intense rivalry too far during the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City; both are banned from competition after a nasty brawl. After several years out of the public eye and hungry for glory, the men decide to set aside their feud and exploit a loophole that allows them to compete as a pair.
- Starring:
- Will Ferrell, Jon Heder
- Director:
- Will Speck, Josh Gordon
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 93
-
Stuck on You
(2003) (PG-13)
Less Endearing
-
Less Endearing
Stuck on You (2003)
Stuck on You is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Conjoined twins (Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear) go to Hollywood and land a role on a television show starring Cher.
- Starring:
- Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear
- Director:
- Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 118
-
My Life as a Dog
(1987) (PG-13)
Much Artsier
-
Much Artsier
My Life as a Dog (1987)
My Life as a Dog is a Borderline match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- A boy (Anton Glanzelius), obsessed with comparing himself with those less fortunate, experiences a different life at the home of his aunt and uncle (Tomas von Bromssen) in 1959 Sweden.
- Starring:
- Anton Glanzelius, Tomas Von Bromssen
- Director:
- Lasse Hallstrom
- Rated:
- PG-13
- Runtime:
- 100
-
Gummo
(1997) (R)
More Disturbing
-
More Disturbing
Gummo (1997)
Gummo is a Wild Card match for Napoleon Dynamite
- Synopsis:
- Bored teens (Jacob Reynolds, Nick Sutton, Jacob Sewell) in an impoverished Ohio town kill time with odd and destructive pastimes.
- Starring:
- Jacob Reynolds, Nick Sutton
- Director:
- Harmony Korine
- Rated:
- R
- Runtime:
- 88
