Gosh! Fans join ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ cast to celebrate 20th year of cult fave

It’s been 20 years since American pop culture was rocked by the introduction of an unlikely hero in the 2004 independent film “Napoleon Dynamite.” The chronic mouth-breather with his freestyle dance moves and equally awkward friends have been endearing audiences ever since.

Fans gathered to celebrate at Arcadia Live last weekend as the theater hosted an anniversary screening of the film, followed by a conversation with lead actors Jon Heder, whose first movie role was as the titular Napoleon Dynamite; Efren Ramirez, who landed the role of Pedro; and Jon Gries, who played Uncle Rico.

The low-budget independent film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2004.

Directed by Jared Hess, the film takes place in Preston, Idaho. It follows the life of high schooler Napoleon Dynamite as he navigates a new friendship with transfer student Pedro Sanchez, who is campaigning for class president against the most popular girl in school; a budding romance with his classmate Deb; and family life with his chatroom-obsessed brother Kip and his Uncle Rico, who is heartbroken and desperately trying to relive his high school football glory days.

“We were passing out buttons that said ‘Vote for Pedro.’ At film festivals you don’t know if people are going to come see your movie, so you have to hustle the film yourself,” Gries said.

Fox Searchlight Pictures picked up the film for distribution soon after its premiere at Sundance, and “Napoleon Dynamite” began to reach the masses with a North American theatrical release on June 11, 2004. It became a word-of-mouth box office phenomenon by grossing $46.1 million worldwide and $250 million in DVD sales — a huge return on the film’s initial budget of $400,000.

“We were the original fans. We’d film a scene, and as soon as we finished, we’d immediately start quoting from it,” Heder said. “We thought nobody would see it, but it’s like our dreams kept snowballing and getting bigger and bigger.”

Despite these initial low-expectations, “Napoleon Dynamite” has had a steady rise in status as a cult classic that has had a generation-spanning cultural impact over the last two decades.

Its deadpan humor, quotable lines and imitable characters — a trend found in cult films that fosters camaraderie even among strangers — have helped the film transcend generations.

“The story is about outcasts putting themselves out there despite being vulnerable, and in the end it pays off,” Ramirez said. “In a way we’re all nerds, and I think that resonates with everybody.”

The film involves underdogs who beat the odds by being so unapologetically themselves that they overcome their insecurities and actually reach their personal goals. Pedro wins the class presidency, Napoleon finds friends, Kip marries his internet girlfriend, and Uncle Rico finds his soulmate.

Fans — some who were even seeing the film for the first time on a big screen — came dressed up in everything from “Vote for Pedro” ringer T-shirts to ponytails pulled to the side with scrunchies and jogger pants to Western-style shirts accessorized with bolo ties — all in an homage to the quirky cast of characters in the beloved indie film.

“Most of the costumes in the movie were from thrift stores. I think the idea was that in small towns, things like technology, pop culture and fashion take a while to catch up,” Heder said.

The movie’s influence hasn’t stopped there. Being endlessly quotable, phrases like “Gosh,” “Heck yes, I did” and “Give me some of your tots” have wormed their way into American vernacular.

In reference to the infamous scene where Randy, the school bully, crushes Napoleon’s pocket full of Tater Tots he smuggled into class after he refuses to share, Arcadia Live offered fans a Tater Tot bar complete with a variety of condiments.

Earlier this year, the Ore-Ida brand — the inventor of Tater Tots — released the “Ore-Ida Tot-Protecting Pants.” The joggers were limited edition with an innovative food-safe “tot pocket” to help keep the crispy snack bully-resistant, and they sold out quickly.

“We’re very grateful. We’re super stoked,” Heder said on the lasting legacy of “Napoleon Dynamite.”

“We were so excited to be a part of something that mattered to us, and now it matters to a lot more people,” Ramirez said.

The Arcadia Live is a nonprofit historic theater with a mission to promote vibrant and diverse entertainment while preserving the history and life of downtown Kerrville.

Arcadia Live’s next movie screening will feature “Sideways,” the 2004 comedy-drama road trip film starring Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti, following a tasting of six Texas-based wines beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4. Included with a ticket purchase is an entry to a raffle drawing and a souvenir wineglass.

To reserve tickets for the “Sideways” screening and wine tasting, or to learn more about Arcadia Live and other events on schedule, visit www.thearcadialive.org or call the box office at 830-315-5483.

Originally published in the Sept. 19, 2024 edition of The Kerrville Daily Times.