Napoleon Dynamite, Pedro and Uncle Rico are coming to Denver this fall — or at least as close as the characters from the 2004 cult flick “Napoleon Dynamite” can ever get.
Following successful revival-tours of classic sci-fi and comedy movies including “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (with and “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (with — plus the recently announced “Blazing Saddles” (with Mel Brooks, at Bellco Theatre Oct. 6) — “Napoleon Dynamite” will screen at Denver’s Paramount Theatre on Oct. 12.
The event is built around a conversation with stars Jon Heder (who played Napoleon), Efren Ramirez (Pedro) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) and follows a national trend at theaters big and small of reviving films and following them with in-person Q&As — while also charging higher ticket prices and turning a potentially random couch-watch into a bona fide event.
Along with indie director Jared Hess and writer Jerusha Hess, Heder and the rest of the “Napoleon Dynamite” team helped channel a particularly goofy, ironic ’80s fetishism whose influence is in advertising, TV, movies and fashion.
The much-quoted movie will be followed by “a lively, freewheeling, moderated discussion with fan-favorite cast members,” according to a press release. As recently as April, Heder seemed cool to the fact that his career, which includes the new indie film “When Jeff Tried to Save the World,” was often reduced to “Napoleon Dynamite” by reporters and critics.
“Almost inevitably it comes back to Napoleon,” , before listing his most-asked questions during interviews. They included (in his words): ” ‘Take a retrospective look back: how has it impacted your life all these years and looking back at it now how does it affect you? How do you see this cult phenomenon that it’s become?’ “
Regardless, Heder’s on-board for the current screening, so get your best costumes, notebook drawings and dance moves ready for Oct. 12.
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. show are on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24 and will cost between $39.75 and $49.75. Call 866-461-6556 or visit to buy. VIP tickets, which include “premium seating and a meet-and-greet,” are available for $125 each. Physical tickets will also be available for purchase at the Pepsi Center Box Office and Dick’s Sporting Goods Park box office, or Paramount Theatre box office (event days only) starting Aug. 27.
And an important note from the press release: the event is BYOT (bring your own tots). Heck yes!
