Where Was “Napoleon Dynamite” Filmed?

Created by husband-and-wife team Jared and Jerusha Hess as their debut film, 2004’s “Napoleon Dynamite” quickly became a cult classic. The movie focuses on the titular character, an awkward and nerdy teen with a memorable perm played by Jon Heder. Napoleon navigates the challenges of his daily life with quirky and hilariously quotable aplomb. If you’re now wondering, “Where was “Napoleon Dynamite” filmed?” then no worries — we’ll get to that soon!

Much of the movie was heavily based on Jared’s experiences growing up in Preston, Idaho. Hess has stated, “The character of Napoleon was a hybrid of all the most nerdy and awkward parts of me and my brothers growing up.” That authenticity comes through and makes for a truly hilarious film that was not only extraordinarily and unexpectedly popular when it was released, but also remains widely beloved today.

Amazingly, although the movie only cost $400,000 to make, it has grossed more than $45 million since it was released, according to Fantastic Facts. Like several other movies of the era (“Little Miss Sunshine” comes to mind), it’s the quintessential example of a low-budget, independent film that broke through into the mainstream to become a major blockbuster.

Was it actually filmed in the location where the events of the movie were set? Discover where “Napoleon Dynamite” was filmed and unique locations that are similar to those of Preston, Idaho, that you can easily rent for yourself through Peerspace, the most extensive online marketplace for hourly rentals of all kinds of spaces.

Where was “Napoleon Dynamite” filmed?

“Napoleon Dynamite” feels so authentic because not only is it set in Jared Hess’ hometown of Preston, Idaho, a tiny town with a population of around 5,000, it was actually filmed there as well in July 2003. According to Tucson.com, the release of the comedy “put this farm town near the Utah border on the map.” In addition, the movie “generated $1 million for Preston, according to the chamber of commerce, one of the first to bill the town as a destination for ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ aficionados.”

Preston High School

Because Napoleon’s character is a high school student, much of the film takes place at his school. These scenes were actually filmed at the real Preston High School. The school was the location for both interior and exterior shots of the high school throughout the film.

Jared Hess himself graduated from Preston High School in 1997. For instance, this hilarious scene where the “Happy Hands Club” performs was filmed in one of the school’s classrooms. So was this famous scene where a bully tries to force Napoleon to hand over his tater tots.

Napoleon’s house

When you ask the question, “Where was ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ filmed?” another location that likely comes to mind is Napoleon’s house. According to Rob on Location, “The house where Napoleon and his brother Kip live with their grandmother is located on the outskirts of Preston.

“The house is surrounded by farmland, just as seen in the film. The field next door to the house is where Napoleon fed his llama Tina, and the pasture across the street is where the farmer shot the cow.”

Why did they choose to film in Preston?

Why did Hess choose to film in Preston, rather than in a more well-known location a bit closer to Hollywood? As described in an article by Looper, “While other filmmakers would have chosen other locations, Preston had inspired so much of the film’s Midwestern style.

“There were also finances to consider; Hess could only make ‘Dynamite’ for $400,000, so he simply made the film with his buddies.” It was a bold choice, but ultimately it was the right one, both for the limited budget of the movie and its memorable aesthetic, which is so integral to its widespread appeal.

Plus, as Hess himself recounts in an oral history of “Napoleon Dynamite” released by Rolling Stone, he and his filmmaking buddies had an absolute blast throughout the film’s whirlwind shooting schedule: “It was so much fun being in this rural farm town making a movie.

“We shot it in 23 days, so we were moving very, very fast; I just didn’t have a lot of film to be able to do a lot of takes. It was a bunch of friends getting together to make a movie. It was like, ‘Are people going to get this? Is it working?’” Almost two decades later, looking back on the film’s stunning success, it’s clear the answer was a resounding, “Yes!”

Filming locations similar to Preston

Although no spaces in Preston are currently available for rent through Peerspace, quite a few options exist in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, one of the nearest major cities. Take a look at examples of hourly production location rentals available.

1. Renovated 1930s storefront in Ogden, Utah

If you’re looking for a studio with historic charm, this renovated Ogden store from the 1930s is a great choice. The shop features tall ceilings with original ’30s rafter and raw brick. Large windows let in ample natural light, and they have a privacy film on them.

2. Historic downtown community center in Ogden, Utah

Located just over an hour’s drive south of Preston in downtown Ogden, Utah, this is a small space that’s highly affordable to rent and billed as “a great space for photography, videography, and other media production.”

To quote one happy reviewer who held an event at this location, “The space at Community Well was amazing for our small school concert! The facilities were so beautiful and easy to find. I appreciated the parking garage in the back as well. Hannah was great to work with and very communicative. I will definitely use this space to hold events in the future!”

Find unique film production venues on Peerspace