Elf

2003
PG
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

317K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

104

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

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Holiday Comedy Holiday Family Holiday Romance Quirky Comedy Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy Holiday Romance

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christ... Read allRaised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

317K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

104

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 8 nominations

Videos13

Top-Rated Holiday Movies to Watch

Clip 1:00

5 Top-Rated Will Ferrell Movies to Watch

Clip 2:37

The Worst Gifts in Our Favorite Holiday Films

Photos85

+ 79

Movie and TV Santas We Love

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with some of our favorite portrayals of Santa Claus.

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Photos

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Several minor traffic accidents occurred when Will Ferrell walked through the Lincoln Tunnel in his costume, because people were so surprised (and distracted from their driving) to see him wearing an elf outfit.

Goofs
When Buddy chases Michael down the street from the school, a crew member in a yellow hat can be seen trying to duck back behind a doorway of a house on the street.

Quotes
Buddy: [thinking Miles is an elf] Did you have to borrow a reindeer to get down here?
Miles Finch: Hey, jackweed, I get more action in a week than you've had in your entire life. I've got houses in L.A., Paris and Vail. In each one, a 70 inch plasma screen. So I suggest you wipe that stupid smile off your face before I come over there and SMACK it off! You feeling strong, my friend? Call me elf one more time.
Buddy: [after a pause] He's an angry elf.
[Miles promptly attacks him]

Crazy credits
Leon the Snowman closes out the movie by saluting and winking at the camera followed by an iris out.

Connections
Featured in Late Night with Conan O'Brien: James Caan/David Cross/Greg Behrendt (2003)

Soundtracks
Pennies From Heaven
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Louis Prima
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User reviews650

Review

Featured review

8/10

Classic Christmas spirit.

This is the kind of Christmas movie you should be watching every 25th of December apart from your usuals. It's a wonderful story, with a strong Will Ferrell, playing an innocent, child-like, distracted elf who has no idea how the real world functions, as he is on the quest to search for his real family. He is willing to spread the Christmas spirit on a city which apparently hasn't got the spark in its eyes, so there is a hard task on his hands.

The rest of the cast is wonderfully completed by Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Daniel Tay, with Peter Dinklage and Bob Newhart in small roles. Ferrell definitely steals the movie; and his troubled relationship with his father (Caan) provides some funny and touching moments as well. Jon Favreau did quite a good job from the director's chair, turning this seemingly childish film into a marvelous choice for your Christmas movies of every year. Some even regard it as a classic, but well, I will let you be the judge of that.