Who doesn’t love the cult classic movie, Napoleon Dynamite. The movie is 20 years old this year and it’s the perfect time to celebrate it’s anniversary with some fun Napoleon Dynamite costumes for Halloween.
We were ahead of the game and wore Napoleon Dynamite costumes for Halloween last year. There are quite a few quirky characters in Napoleon Dynamite, making it an awesome theme for group costumes.
My son Quinn made the perfect Napoleon and that’s what he wanted to be. We love doing family costume themes, so it made sense to just go with a Napoleon Dynamite theme for our Halloween party last year.
Napoleon Dynamite Costumes
I am going to show your our Napoleon Dynamite costumes and also share some ideas for the other characters from the movie. You will find costume ideas for Napoleon, Rex, Tina, Pedro, Kip, Deb, Uncle Rico, Summer and more!
Napoleon Dynamite Costume
There are a few different options for Napoleon’s costume but I think the most recognizable option is his ‘Vote for Pedro’ t-shirt. It’s the shirt he wears while campaigning for his best friend Pedro to become class president. We bought a costume kit that included the t-shirt, wig and glasses.
Napoleon Dynamite Costume Pieces
- “Vote for Pedro” t-shirt
- Jeans
- Black moon boots or sneakers
- Thick aviator-style glasses
- Short, curly, messy wig
- Additional accessory ideas: Black casio watch, Walkman with headphones or tater tots
Bonus Ideas include memorizing some of Napoleon’s sick dance moves or his signature slack-jawed expression.
Famous Quotes:
- “Kip, Bring Me My Chapstick”
- “Vote For Pedro”
- “I Told You! I Spent It With My Uncle In Alaska Hunting Wolverines!”
- “Tina, You Fat Lard, Come Get Some Dinner”
Pedro Sanchez Costume Pieces
- Short-sleeve western-style button-up shirt
- High-waisted jeans with a belt
- Cowboy boots
- Dark mustache (drawn-on works if needed)
- Short black wig (or style your hair slicked back)
- Additional accessory ideas: “Vote for Pedro” buttons, small American flag pin, bike helmet
Famous Quotes:
- “It’s a Sledgehammer”
- “Like what are my skills?”
Rex (from Rex Kwon Do) Costume Pieces
I used my Cricut to make a ‘Rex’ name tag for the blue polo shirt and white stars for the red bandana.
- Red, white and blue ‘American flag’ pants
- Tight blue tank top with “Rex Kwon Do” logo or American flag
- Black wrist guards
- Tinted safety glasses or aviators
- Red bandana with white stars
- Additional accessory ideas: Nunchucks, martial arts belt
Famous Quotes:
- “Do you think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I’m wearing these bad boys?”
Tina the Llama Costume Pieces
Of course I had to DIY a llama costume and did so using brown fabric, cardboard boxes and a few details. I started the project too late and it didn’t turn as great as I liked but it worked for our needs. I did make a ‘Tina’ name tag and used a purple ribbon to attach it.
Check out this tutorial which you can use as a starting point if you want to make a llama like mine (or better).
If you aren’t as ambitious as me then check out these other 2 easier ideas:
or a semi-DIY easy version
Kip Dynamite Costume Pieces
- Light blue polo shirt tucked into khaki shorts
- Big frame nerdy glasses
- Dark shoes with tall socks
- Mustache
- Additional accessory ideas: “LaFawnduh” sign
Famous Quotes:
- “Your mom goes to college”
- “I love technology, but not as much as you, you see… But I STILL love technology”
Deb Costume Pieces
One of Deb’s shirts is a pink polo with white sleeves ands stripes. I combined a pink and white polo and then added white strips of duct tape to recreate the look. I also found a cheap pink backpack at the dollar store and modified it into a belt bag with a few stitches from my sewing machine.
- Pink polo or pastel sweater
- Side ponytail with a scrunchie
- Light blue jeans
- 80’s white sneakers
- Pink fanny pack (belt bag)
- Additional accessory ideas: purple Caboodle, retro-style camera, homemade friendship bracelets, or a keychain with beaded names
Famous Quotes:
- “What’s a liger?”
- “And here we have some boondoggle key chains. A must-have for this season’s fashion.”
Uncle Rico Costume Pieces
- Brown or tan 70s-style polo shirt
- Straight-leg jeans with a belt
- Headband or shaggy brown wig
- Additional accessory ideas: football or VHS camera
Famous Quotes:
- “It’s a free country. I can do whatever I want.”
- “Back in ’82, I used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter mile.”
Summer Wheatley Costume Pieces
- Light blue or pastel polo shirt
- Short denim skirt or preppy pants
- Sweater tied over the shoulders (optional)
- Long, blonde wavy hair (wig or temporary spray)
- Additional accessory ideas: Campaign posters or a clipboard with signatures
Famous Quotes:
“And if you vote for me, it will be summer all year round.”
Conclusion
- Recap how easy it is to recreate these costumes with items from home or thrift stores.
- Encourage creativity in mixing and matching accessories or props to fit each character.
- Mention how iconic each character is, making these costumes instantly recognizable and a hit at any event.
- Suggest that friends or family can all dress up as different characters from Napoleon Dynamite for a fun group theme.
Additional Napoleon Dynamite Costume Ideas
Here are some secondary characters from Napoleon Dynamite that would also make great Halloween costumes.
- LaFawnduh
- Don
- Trisha
- Napoleon’s Grandma
- Starla
- Happy Hands Club Members
These secondary characters offer fun, recognizable options for DIY costumes, especially for fans who want to dig deeper into the Napoleon Dynamite universe.
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