20 Things You Somehow Missed In Napoleon Dynamite

19. Introducing Napoleon Dyamite

Napoleon Dynamite
Fox Searchlight

Napoleon Dynamite's title sequence is held in high regard as one of film's most iconic alongside the likes of David Fincher's Se7en, Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, and Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. 

The innovative title sequence used everyday objects to spell out its stars and name the behind-the-scenes team - fitting considering the commonplace, domestic setting. However, these objects are not random. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the items shown are referenced throughout the film.

The meals featured are eaten by various characters, such as the ever-present hunks of steak. Other more blatant references are Napoleon’s Preston High ID card and classroom essential stationery. Napoleon’s fixation with Chapstick is also cemented in the opening titles.

A great success of the sequence is introducing audiences to Napoleon’s fascination with fantasy. We see his crude swords and sorcery drawings, which are displayed throughout the movie, alongside other references to a proclivity to the bizarre. A UFO Abduction Insurance card belonging to the titular character along with two borrowed library books on Big Foot and centaurs add to this.

The tin foil ninja star is a nod to Napoleon’s self-proclaimed and debatable “illegal ninja moves from the government.”

Contributor

An English Lit. MA Grad trying to validate my student debt by writing literary fiction and alternative non-fiction.