Elf (2003)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 7 nominations
A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers
Elf is the perfect Christmas movie to watch with your family, especially if you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned slapstick humor. Will Ferrell is hilarious as Buddy the Elf, and the candy-colored sets and New York City backdrop make for a festive and enchanting viewing experience. Sure, the ending is a bit cheesy, but what else would you expect from a holiday movie? Overall, Elf is a sugar-coated, light-hearted romp that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some mild rude humor and language
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2004
Genre(s)
Holiday/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Zooey Deschanel, directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum, holiday, comedy, fantasy, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by Neil Norman, David Ansen, Christy Lemire, Scott Tobias, Owen Gleiberman, Nell Minow, Fico Cangiano, PJ Nabarro, Richard Propes, Debbie Lynn Elias, Rachel Wagner, Kristy Strouse, Will Ferrell’s performance, Santa’s elves, New York City, DNA test, Walter Hobbs, Papa Elf, Santa, Emily, Jovie, Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki, Shauna Robertson, New Line Cinema, SDDS, Dolby SR, DTS, Surround
Worldwide gross: $225,097,437
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $364,854,076
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 415
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 39,787,795
US/Canada gross: $177,874,109
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $288,311,118
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 210
US/Canada opening weekend: $32,100,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $52,029,983
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 213
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $33,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $53,488,768
Production budget ranking: 749
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $28,803,701
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $282,561,607
ROI to date (est.): 343%
ROI ranking: 408
James Caan – Walter
Bob Newhart – Papa Elf
Ed Asner – Santa
Mary Steenburgen – Emily
Zooey Deschanel – Jovie
Director(s)
Jon Favreau
Writer(s)
David Berenbaum
Producer(s)
Jon Berg, Todd Komarnicki, Shauna Robertson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (196) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (166) | Rotten (30)
While his plotting may leave a little to be desired, Favreau directs with speed, humour and efficiency.
December 14, 2014
Neil Norman
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the “true spirit of Christmas” must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick over treacle.
December 14, 2014
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Sure, Elf feels a little too feel-good at the end, but what do you expect? It’s a Christmas movie! Anything else would be the cinematic equivalent of finding coal in your stocking.
December 4, 2013
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The cast wrings laughs out of David Berenbaum’s script as if it were a damp washcloth, but even they have trouble selling frenetic button-pushing as the Christmas spirit.
December 4, 2013
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
A disarmingly funny holiday comedy.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Peppy holiday favorite for both kids and parents.
August 31, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
A sugarcoated, light hearted, funny Christmas romp.
December 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
Classic family Christmas fodder: the gorgeous candyfloss colour schemes and New York in all its resplendent wintry beauty help the film pass effortlessly by too.
January 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro
Captures the spirit that I long to have during the holiday season.
September 7, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Simplicity. Goodness. Sugar-coated. Nostalgic. Maybe a little hokey at times. Endearing. Enchanting. Go celebrate Christmas a little early with Elf — a new Christmas classic for the 21st century.
November 6, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s a really fun holiday film.
May 9, 2019 | Rating: A-
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
There are few cinematic ventures that capture the Christmas spirit in such abundance and hit the Holiday target so directly on the nose.
December 11, 2018
Kristy Strouse
Film Inquiry…
Plot
Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa’s sack and ended up at the North Pole. Later, as an adult who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Walter, who is on Santa’s naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter’s relationship with him interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises Will Ferrell’s “funny and charming performance” as one of Santa’s helpers in Elf.
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