The best Jon Heder movies and TV shows highlight why the Napoleon Dynamite and Blades of Glory actor has become known for his quirky, inimitable style. Born in Colorado in 1977, Jon Heder has become known over the years thanks to his unique style of performance that makes him instantly recognizable in almost any role. While he’s best known for 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite, this is far from his only appearance, and the actor has been a highlight of the cast lists of multiple movies and TV shows since his career began in 2000.
Heder’s career has several intriguing facets. For example, he only starred in a handful of short movies prior to appearing in Napoleon Dynamite in 2004, giving his career something of an explosive start rather than it being a slow-burn rise to prominence. He’s also been nominated for dozens of Teen Choice Awards specifically, making him an on-screen presence that particularly resonates with viewers who were adolescents in the 2000s. The best Jon Heder movies show that he’s an actor with a niche he can perform to perfection, making every entry almost guaranteed to be enjoyed by his many fans.
10 Walt Before Mickey (2015)
Jon Heder Played Roy Disney
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Walt Before Mickey PG
Walt Before Mickey explores the early career of Walt Disney, highlighting his determination to overcome a challenging childhood. Set before the creation of Mickey Mouse, the film delves into Disney’s formative struggles and achievements, shaping the iconic legacy of one of the most influential figures in animation history.
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*Availability in US Director Khoa Le Release Date August 14, 2015 Cast Thomas Ian Nicholas , Jon Heder , David Henrie , Jodie Sweetin , Arthur L. Bernstein , Ayla Kell , Hunter Gomez , Taylor Gray , Kate Katzman , Flora Bonfanti , Conor Dubin , Timothy Neil Williams , Frank Licari , Natasha Sherritt , Sheena Colette , Owen Teague , Haley Swindal , Randy Molnar , Nicolas D’Amico , Tamela D’Amico , Donn Lamkin , Beatrice Taveras , Maralee Thompson , Briana Colman , Noah Forgione , Demitri Vardoulias , Brian Brightman , Alex Higgins , Grace Flatscher Runtime 107 Minutes Expand
The majority of the best Jon Heder movies are comedies, as this is inarguably the genre the actor is best suited to. However, he’s not only limited to comedy films, and he has featured in several more serious projects. One highlight of his career in this regard is 2015’s Walt Before Mickey, the 2015 biopic from director Khoa Le that adapts Timothy S. Susanin’s book Walt Before Mickey: Disney’s Early Years, 1919-1928.
As suggested by the title, Walt Before Mickey tells the story of Walt Disney’s career prior to the company bearing his family name becoming one of the most recognizable in the world. Jon Heder plays Walt’s older brother, Roy Disney, who was also pivotal to the early success of the company and was its first CEO. While it’s not Jon Heder’s best movie, it is one of the highlights of his career outside of comedy movies (though the biopic wasn’t received overly positively by critics).
9 Just Like Heaven (2005)
Jon Heder Plays Darryl
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Just Like Heaven PG-13
Just Like Heaven tells the story of a man who begins to fall in love with the spirit of a woman he meets in his apartment. As he grapples with the supernatural elements of their connection, he strives to unravel the mystery surrounding her existence. This romantic comedy blends elements of fantasy with heartfelt moments of human connection.
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*Availability in US Director Mark Waters Release Date September 16, 2005 Cast Reese Witherspoon , Mark Ruffalo , Donal Logue , Dina Spybey-Waters , Ben Shenkman , Jon Heder , Ivana Miličević , Caroline Aaron , Rosalind Chao , Ron Canada , Willie Garson , Kerris Dorsey , Alyssa Shafer , Gabrielle Made , William Caploe , Shulie Cowen , Billy Beck , Diego Sebastian , Cristian Cruz , Benjamin Hughes , Cara Vivien Rosenberg Runtime 95 minutes Expand
Jon Heder may not have led the cast of 2005’s Just Like Heaven, but he managed to shine through even when sharing a screen with the likes of Mark Ruffalo and Reece Witherspoon – as evidenced by his nomination for a Teen Choice Award for Choice Actor: Comedy. Directed by Mark Waters, Just Like Heaven is a fantasy rom-com that sees Mark Ruffalo’s David falling in love with Reese Witherspoon’s Elizabeth, a Doctor who appears as a disembodied spirit thanks to being in a coma.
Jon Heder appears in Just Like Heaven as the clerk of a bookstore focusing on psychics and the occult. As with many of Jon Heder’s best roles, the character is a complete eccentric and offers a bombastic presence among a cast all playing relatively normal characters. While he wasn’t the most central character in Just Like Heaven, he became one of its most memorable, and is arguably responsible for many of the positive responses to the movie (especially considering its relatively middling reviews).
8 Moving McAllister (2007)
Jon Heder Plays Orlie
2007’s Moving McCallister was something of an indie comedy, and was directed by Andrew Black. Jon Heder helps flesh out the ensemble cast as Orlie, appearing alongside the likes of Mila Kunis, Rutger Hauer, Billy Drago, and Ben Gourley. While far from the most celebrated or widely known Jon Heder movie out there, it warrants recognition among his best films due to the quality of Heder’s performance.
Moving McCallister focuses on Rick Robinson (Gourley), a failing law intern, who agrees to take a U-Haul cross-country for his boss – with his boss’s insufferable niece Michelle (Kunis) in tow. Jon Heder instantly elevates the film when he enters as Orlie, a hilarious hitchhiker who somehow manages to tag along. His eccentric behavior creates no shortage of problems for Rick, and Jon Heder shines through as an incredibly watchable character in an otherwise unremarkable film.
7 Mama’s Boy (2007)
Jon Heder Plays Jeffrey Mannus
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Mama’s Boy PG-13
Mama’s Boy follows a 29-year-old slacker whose comfortable life with his mother is disrupted when she becomes engaged to her self-help guru boyfriend.
Director Tim Hamilton Release Date December 14, 2007 Cast Jon Heder , Diane Keaton , Jeff Daniels , Anna Faris , Eli Wallach , Dorian Missick , Sarah Chalke , Mary Kay Place , Adam Devine , Simon Helberg , Jenny Ladner , Ben Crowley , Laura Kightlinger , Jessie Graff , Jonah Ray , Evan Peters Runtime 93 minutes Expand
Directed by Tim Hamilton, 2007’s Mama’s Boy makes perfect use of Jon Heder’s unique comedic talents. Heder has proven time and time again that he’s one of the best actors out there for playing underdog heroes who overcome circumstances created by their low confidence or inability to change the course of their lives, and few characters exemplify this more than Jeffrey Mannus in Mama’s Boy. While the movie wasn’t received especially well by critics, fans of Jon Heder cite it time and time again as one of the best performances of his career.
Jeffrey in Mama’s Boy is incredibly eccentric, and Heder’s performance in the movie also taps into many of the talents he displayed in movies like Napoleon Dynamite. He also has especially notable chemistry with co-star Diane Keaton, who plays Jeffrey’s mother, Jan. Mama’s Boy also features a surprisingly heartwarming romance arc which sees Jeffrey eventually win the affections of Anna Faris’ Nora Flannagan.
6 School For Scoundrels (2006)
Jon Heder Plays Roger
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School for Scoundrels PG-13
School for Scoundrels follows a young man who enrolls in a confidence-building class to win over the girl of his dreams. His plans become complicated when his teacher, who leads the course, also sets his sights on the same woman, leading to a comedic rivalry.
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*Availability in US Director Todd Phillips Release Date September 29, 2006 Cast Billy Bob Thornton , Jon Heder , Jacinda Barrett , Sarah Silverman , Michael Clarke Duncan , David Cross , Horatio Sanz , Matt Walsh , Todd Louiso , Ben Stiller , Luis Guzman , Dan Fogler , DeRay Davis , Jon Glaser , Paul Scheer , Joanne Baron , Omar J. Dorsey , Marcella Lowery , Leonard Earl Howze , Jim Parsons , Aziz Ansari , Remy K. Selma , Andy Daly , Bob Stephenson , Jack Kehler Runtime 100 Minutes Expand
Jon Heder co-stars in 2006’s School for Scoundrels alongside Billy Bob Thornton, and the remake of the 1960 British movie of the same name is something of an underrated gem in the actor’s filmography (despite Heder being nominated for a Teen Choice Award for Best Comedy Movie actor for his performance). Heder plays Roger in School for Scoundrels, a down-on-his-luck meter reader with a low self esteem due to a lifetime of being bullied by his peers.
However, Roger’s fortunes seem to take a turn when he signs up for an adult class in boosting self-esteem. This is where Billy Bob Thornton enters as Dr. P, the teacher of the class. However, Dr. P’s methods more-or-less involve simply berating his students – which, amazingly, seems to work by the end of the movie. Depicting Roger’s transition from meek and mild-mannered to brimming with confidence by the end of School for Scoundrels remains a highlight of his career, and his great chemistry with Billy Bob Thornton makes the 2006 comedy more than worth a watch for fans of the Napoleon Dynamite star.
5 The Benchwarmers (2006)
Jon Heder Plays Clark Reedy
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The Benchwarmers
The Benchwarmers is a 2006 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Jon Heder as three adult friends who form a baseball team to challenge and triumph over a group of elementary school bullies. With themes of friendship and perseverance, the film explores how underdogs can overcome adversity through teamwork and determination.
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*Availability in US Director Dennis Dugan Release Date April 7, 2006 Cast Rob Schneider , David Spade , Jon Heder , Jon Lovitz , Craig Kilborn , Molly Sims , Tim Meadows Runtime 85 Minutes
Jon Heder has appeared in several sports-comedy movies, and one of the best is inarguably 2006’s The Benchwarmers. Produced by Adam Sandler and Jack Girraputo, The Benchwarmers in many ways feels like a spiritual successor to Sandler’s own sports comedies like Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy. The plot focuses on three unathletic adults who live out their childhood dreams by forming their own baseball team, entering the little leagues to finally live out their unfulfilled dreams.
Jon Heder stars alongside Rob Schneider and David Spade as Clark Reedy, an adult paperboy who seeks to redeem his life’s unsatisfactory trajectory. It’s a role Heder plays exceptionally well, as evidenced by his 2006 nomination for a Teen Choice Award in the Movie Actor – Comedy bracket. He adds a lot of balance to the trio of stars which would have otherwise felt a little two-dimensional had the plot only featured Schneider’s reformed bully Gus or Spade’s video rental stor worker Richie.
4 Surf’s Up (2007)
Jon Heder Plays Chicken Joe
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Surf’s Up PG
Surf’s Up is an animated film following a young penguin named Cody Maverick, who enters a surfing competition in hopes of gaining respect. His journey takes a turn when he meets a laid-back mentor who challenges Cody to reevaluate his approach to surfing and life.
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*Availability in US Director Ash Brannon , Chris Buck Release Date June 8, 2007 Cast Shia LaBeouf , Jeff Bridges , Zooey Deschanel , Jon Heder , James Woods , Diedrich Bader , Mario Cantone , Kelly Slater , Rob Machado , Selema Masekela , Ash Brannon , Chris Buck , Brian Posehn , Dana Belben , Reed Buck , Reese Elowe , Jack P. Ranjo , Maddie Taylor , Bob Bergen Runtime 85 minutes Expand
2007’s Surf’s Up and, to a lesser extent, the 2017 sequel Surf’s Up 2: WaveMania are often overlooked when reminiscing on the CGI family movie-heavy 2000s. However, the film about surfing penguins was among the most quirky and original concepts from the era, and Jon Heder had one of his best voice-acting appearances in both the original and the sequel as Chicken Joe. Surf’s Up was directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck, and is a laugh-out-loud hilarious parody of surfer culture – made all the funnier by having all the characters as surfing penguins.
However, among the black-and-white surfing birds like Shia LaBeouf’s Cody, Jeff Bridges’ Zeke, and Zooey Deschanel’s Lani the lifeguard, is one bird who isn’t a penguin at all. This is, of course, Jon Heder as Chicken Joe, a dimwitter rooster who left his life on a Wisconsin farm to pursue his true passion – catching waves on a surfboard. Heder shines in the movie even with the rest of the cast being star-studded, and while Surf’s Up may not be remembered in quite the same was a other CGI family movies from the era, it remains one of his best movies.
3 Monster House (2006)
Jon Heder Plays Reginald “Skull” Skulinski
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Monster House
No adults believe it when three teenagers tell them that there is a house in their neighborhood that is a dangerous creature. With Halloween approaching, they have to find a way to destroy the house before it harms innocent children.
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*Availability in US Director Gil Kenan Release Date July 21, 2006 Cast Spencer Locke , Sam Lerner , Catherine O’Hara , Fred Willard , Maggie Gyllenhaal Runtime 91 minutes
Jon Heder may not be one of the cast leads in the 2006 animated horror-comedy Monster House, though this doesn’t stop the Gil Kenan-directed movie being among the best the actor has appeared in. Monster House has become something of a cult gem over the years since it released, and is considered a great entry point to horror films for younger viewers. The plot focuses on a trio of kids who become trapped in a possessed house, and it’s here that Jon Heder’s character comes into play.
Jon Heder plays Reginald “Skull” Skulinski in Monster House, a local supernatural expert. He helps the central characters D.J. (Mitchel Musso), Chowder (Sam Lerner) and Jenny (Spencer Locke) figure out that the titular monster house is a rare case of a possession fusing a spirit with a man-made structure. It may not be the most prominent role in his filmography, but Jon Heder plays the part to perfection.
2 Blades of Glory (2007)
Jon Heder Plays Jimmy MacElroy
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8/10 Blades Of Glory PG-13
Blades of Glory is a 2007 sports comedy film directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck. It stars Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as rival figure skaters who are banned from the sport and must team up to compete in pairs figure skating. The film explores their journey from animosity to an unlikely partnership as they strive to overcome personal and professional challenges in their quest for redemption on the ice.
Director Josh Gordon , Will Speck Release Date March 30, 2007 Cast Will Ferrell , Jon Heder , Will Arnett , Amy Poehler , Jenna Fischer , William Fichtner , Craig T. Nelson , Romany Malco Runtime 93 Minutes
Jon Heder’s career experienced a high point in the mid to late 2000s, and his most prominent role during this period was arguably starring alongside Will Ferrell in the 2007 sports comedy Blades of Glory. Directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, Blades of Glory turned the strange world of professional figure-skating into a laugh-out-loud comedy, and Heder truly shined even when next to a comedy heavyweight like Will Ferrell.
In Blades of Glory, Jon Heder and Will Ferrell played former rivals who were both disqualified from professional skating. However, the pair discover a loophole that allows them to compete – but only if they enter as a team in the doubles division. Jon Heder’s character, the self-taught skater Jimmy MacElroy, is the perfect counterpart to Ferrell’s, Chazz Micahel Michaels (who is a typical foul-mouthed Ferrell persona), and to this day Blades of Glory remains both one of the best Jon Heder movies and his most prominent castings in a blockbuster comedy.
1 Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Jon Heder Plays Napoleon Dynamite
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8/10 9/10 Napoleon Dynamite PG
Considered a cult classic, Napoleon Dynamite follows the titular character, an awkward high school student from a small town in Idaho. The film follows Napoleon’s life as he deals with the antics of his strange family, his romantic feelings for a fellow classmate, and his assistance of a friend to win Class President over the school’s popular girl. Jon Heder stars as Napoleon Dynamite, with a further class that includes Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Aaron Ruell, and Jon Gries.
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*Availability in US Director Jared Hess Release Date August 27, 2004 Cast Jon Heder , Aaron Ruell , Tina Majorino , Haylie Duff , Efren Ramirez , Jon Gries Runtime 96 minutes
Of all the projects the actor has appeared in before or since, 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite remains the best Jon Heder movie. His performance as the titular character remains iconic, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone else could have brought the awkward and quirky teen to life quite like Jon Heder. There are dozens of great Napoleon Dynamite quotes, the majority of which come from Jon Heder himself as Napoleon, and it’s the film that remains most synonymous with his career as an actor.
For his performance as Napoleon Dynamite, Jon Heder won and was nominated for multiple awards, including taking home the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance. It’s the role that put the actor on the map, and it’s not an understatement to say that his performance in Napoleon Dynamite was iconic, with the film owing its success as much to Jon Heder as Jon Heder does to the movie when it comes to his career. While there have been many great Jon Heder movies over the years since, Napoleon Dynamite remains his absolute best.