Jared Hess

Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess, yeah, that filmmaking duo—honestly, their stuff is kind of unmistakable. You’ve got Jared, born in '79, and Jerusha, born in 1980, both hailing from Utah and pretty much redefining quirk in the early 2000s. Their big breakout? Napoleon Dynamite, obviously. That movie’s like a cult classic now, with its awkward charm and deadpan humor. Everyone knows at least one line from it, right? They both wrote it, but Jared took the director’s seat. Then came Nacho Libre in 2006, which is just... wild in its own way. Jack Black running around as a wannabe luchador in stretchy pants? It’s goofy but weirdly heartfelt, and Mike White jumped into the writing mix for that one. They didn’t stop there—Gentlemen Broncos landed in 2009, and, honestly, that movie’s got a flavor all its own. Super offbeat, super nerdy, and not afraid to be a little out there. But, hey, they weren’t just about movies. The Hesses also dipped into music videos—like The Postal Service’s “We Will Become Silhouettes,” which totally fits their oddball aesthetic, and The Killers’ “Boots” for a Christmas charity thing. Their style? Super distinctive. Awkward, lovable characters, oddball humor, and a vibe that’s both low-key and unforgettable. Not everyone gets their movies, but the people who do? Diehard fans for life. There’s just something about the way they see the world—off-kilter, a bit sweet, and always a little bit weird.