Is Idaho’s Napoleon Dynamite A Cult Classic?

This has become a heated online debate in 2021... Is Idaho's Napoleon Dynamite a cult classic? Napoleon Dynamite himself, actor Jon Heder, weighs in...

Arguably the most famous movie filmed in Idaho, 2004's Napoleon Dynamite, while being a low-budget independent film, did bring in $45 MILLION dollars and had people quoting silly lines for years. In fact, you sometimes still hear them to this day. But, is it a cult classic? This has become a big debate in the online world of film nerds. Let's start by defining "cult classic". Here's the definition, according to Wikipedia: "A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film with a cult following, obscure or unpopular with mainstream audiences, and often revolutionary or ironically enjoyed. ... Cult films are defined as much by audience reaction as they are by content." So the question is... Could a film that grossed $45 Million Dollars be considered a "cult classic"? Well, according to the film's star, Jon Heder, yes!

Jon Heder says a cult classic will test the limits of time and because the film seems to take place in a sort of time bubble where no one can really figure out when it takes place, plus all the memorable lines and dry humor, Napoleon Dynamite definitely qualifies. Jon Heder doesn't have the most extensive resume of hit movies but the Preston, Idaho based film that put him on the map has certainly benefitted his career as he has a net worth of about $15 Million dollars. Eat that, Tina!