Napoleon Dynamite/Trivia

• Dawson Casting: Most of the main cast of high school students were in their 20's or 30's with the exception of Tina Majorino and Hailie Duff who were both about 18. Averted with the extras played by actual high school students.
• Hey, It's That Guy!:
  • Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) had many bit parts before this, but you'd never make the connection until after seeing him in this.
  • Also, Diedrich Bader (Rex) has made a career at being "That Guy".
  • Deb (Tina Majorino) previously played the tattooed child Enola in Waterworld.
• No Budget: It only took $400,000 to produce Napoleon Dynamite and nearly half of that was spent for the post-credits scene.
• Throw It In: Napoleon's dancing was entirely improvised by Heder.
  • Also, the scene where Kip is giving the demonstration with the van and the dinnerware. Originally, he was to roll over it, and the plastic would deform but reshape itself, to which Kip was to say, "Pretty cool." However, the plastic was unable to comply due to the laws of physics, and that is what is seen in the film. It turns to be actually funnier.
• Unintentional Period Piece: Subverted, in a way. The film immediately dates itself at the start by setting the year as 2004-2005, but the film's aesthetic more resembles the 80s, with only one song from the 2000s at the end. When asked what time period the film takes place in, Jared Hess replied "Idaho." Most assumed that this was a case of Teasing Creator, but it was his way of explaining just how behind the times the state is. Many who visited Idaho after the film came out were quick to note how little the creators exaggerated its distance from the pulse of the rest of society.
• Write What You Know: Jared and Jerusha Hess are from a small Mormon community in Idaho, and Pedro was based on Jared's friend.
  • Many of the events are also from the directors' own life, such as the cow shooting scene, the "Happy Hands" club, the "I like your sleeves" line...