Writing

Jerusha Hess

Born July 12, 1980 · Olathe, Kansas, USA (age 46)

Jared Lawrence Hess (born July 18, 1979) and Jerusha Elizabeth Hess (née Demke; born May 12, 1980) are husband-and-wife American filmmakers known for their work Napoleon Dynamite (2004) and Nacho Libre (2006), both of which they co-wrote and directed (Nacho Libre was co-written with Mike White). They also produced the video for The Postal Service's third single, "We Will Become Silhouettes". Des…

Known For

Nacho Libre

Nacho Libre · 2006

MovieComedyAction

Ignacio, a disrespected cook at a Mexican monastery, can barely afford to feed the orphans who live there. Inspired by a local wrestling hero, he decides to moonlight as the not-so-famous Luchador "Nacho Libre" to earn money for the monastery -- not to mention the admiration of beautiful nun Sister Encarnación.

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite · 2004

Napoleon Dynamite

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Thelma the Unicorn

Thelma the Unicorn · 2024

Thelma the Unicorn

MovieAnimationFantasy

Thelma dreams of being a glamorous unicorn. Then in a rare pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma's wish comes true. She rises to instant international stardom, but at an unexpected cost. After a while, Thelma realizes that she was happier as her ordinary, sparkle-free self. So she ditches her horn, scrubs off her sparkles, and returns home, where her best friend is waiting for her with a hug.

Austenland

Austenland · 2013

MovieComedyRomance

Obsessed with the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice", a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.

Don Verdean

Don Verdean · 2015

Biblical archaeologist Don Verdean is hired by a local church pastor to find faith-promoting relics in the Holy Land. But after a fruitless expedition he is forced to get creative in this comedy of faith and fraud.

Gentlemen Broncos

Gentlemen Broncos · 2009

Gentlemen Broncos

MovieComedyScience Fiction

A teenager attends a fantasy writers' convention where he discovers his idea has been stolen by an established novelist.

Ninety-Five Senses

Ninety-Five Senses · 2022

Ninety-Five Senses

MovieAnimationDrama

A heartfelt depiction of a man facing his own mortality while reflecting on the grave mistakes of his youth.

Cardboard Only

Cardboard Only · 2001

A seven-year-old Idaho farm boy struggles to escape boredom while wearing a cardboard box over his head.

Filmography

Sort

Nacho Libre

Nacho Libre · 2006

MovieComedyAction

Ignacio, a disrespected cook at a Mexican monastery, can barely afford to feed the orphans who live there. Inspired by a local wrestling hero, he decides to moonlight as the not-so-famous Luchador "Nacho Libre" to earn money for the monastery -- not to mention the admiration of beautiful nun Sister Encarnación.

Writer

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite · 2004

Napoleon Dynamite

A listless and alienated teenager decides to help his new friend win the class presidency in their small western high school, while he must deal with his bizarre family life back home.

Screenplay

Thelma the Unicorn

Thelma the Unicorn · 2024

Thelma the Unicorn

MovieAnimationFantasy

Thelma dreams of being a glamorous unicorn. Then in a rare pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma's wish comes true. She rises to instant international stardom, but at an unexpected cost. After a while, Thelma realizes that she was happier as her ordinary, sparkle-free self. So she ditches her horn, scrubs off her sparkles, and returns home, where her best friend is waiting for her with a hug.

Screenplay

Austenland

Austenland · 2013

MovieComedyRomance

Obsessed with the BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice", a woman travels to a Jane Austen theme park in search for her perfect gentleman.

Director

Don Verdean

Don Verdean · 2015

Biblical archaeologist Don Verdean is hired by a local church pastor to find faith-promoting relics in the Holy Land. But after a fruitless expedition he is forced to get creative in this comedy of faith and fraud.

Writer

Gentlemen Broncos

Gentlemen Broncos · 2009

Gentlemen Broncos

MovieComedyScience Fiction

A teenager attends a fantasy writers' convention where he discovers his idea has been stolen by an established novelist.

Writer

Ninety-Five Senses

Ninety-Five Senses · 2022

Ninety-Five Senses

MovieAnimationDrama

A heartfelt depiction of a man facing his own mortality while reflecting on the grave mistakes of his youth.

Director

Cardboard Only

Cardboard Only · 2001

A seven-year-old Idaho farm boy struggles to escape boredom while wearing a cardboard box over his head.

Producer

Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite · 2012

Napoleon Dynamite

SeriesAnimationComedy

Napoleon Dynamite is an American animated sitcom based on the 2004 cult film of the same name. The series was created by Jared and Jerusha Hess and developed by the Hesses and Mike Scully. The series follows the adventures of Napoleon Dynamite in the small town of Preston, Idaho. The Hesses came up with the idea for the series after filming Napoleon Dynamite. It originally ran on Fox from January 15, 2012, to March 4, 2012, before being cancelled.

Creator