Joe Bauers is a fictional character from the 2006 film Idiocracy, directed by Mike Judge. He is portrayed as an average, unremarkable man who is selected for a government hibernation experiment. Due to a series of mishaps, he ends up waking up 500 years in the future. In this future, Joe discovers that society has significantly declined in intelligence and culture. He becomes an unlikely hero as he navigates this new world, using his basic knowledge and common sense to address various challenges. His character serves as a satirical commentary on contemporary societal issues.