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Trailer

Elf

2003Movie1 h 37 minPG

ComedyFamily
73
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic667.3Rotten Tomatoes85%79%

A heartwarming, uplifting comedy movie about family and fantasy.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Discover your inner elf.

When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic.

Feels like

  • Christmas Comedy
  • Family-Friendly
  • Whimsical
  • Heartwarming
  • Manhattan Setting
  • Will Ferrell Performance
  • Holiday Cheer
  • Feel-Good Movie

Cast

24 of 48

Crew

Directed by
Jon Favreau
Written by
Jon Favreau, David Berenbaum
Produced by
Shauna Robertson, Todd Komarnicki, Jon Berg
Music by
John Debney

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 7, 2003 · 1 h 37 min · PG

Released
November 7, 2003
Runtime
1 h 37 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$32 million
Box office
$229 million
Available in
102 countries

Tropes

Creator Cameo, Overly Long Gag, One Dialogue, Two Conversations +9

  • Creator Cameo
  • Overly Long Gag
  • One Dialogue, Two Conversations
  • All of the Other Reindeer
  • Feet-First Introduction
  • Adapted Out
  • Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!
  • Real After All
  • Accidental Kidnapping
  • Accidental Passenger
  • Take a Third Option
  • Manchild

12 of 188 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Elf?"

Questions about Elf

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Elf?

PrimeHBO Max

In the United States, Elf streams on Prime and HBO Max. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 34 other countries.

Is Elf worth watching?

73
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73 (IMDb 7.1, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 66).

Is Elf okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will Elf make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly slapstick (8 of 10) and situational comedy (7 of 10).

Can I half-watch Elf?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Was Elf a box office hit?

Budget$32 million
Box office$229 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $32 million to make and earned $229 million worldwide, 7.1 times its budget.

What tropes does Elf use?

Creator CameoOverly Long GagOne Dialogue, Two ConversationsAll of the Other ReindeerFeet-First IntroductionAdapted OutAttention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!Real After AllAccidental KidnappingAccidental PassengerTake a Third OptionManchildand 176 more

TV Tropes lists 188 tropes for it, including Creator Cameo, Overly Long Gag, and One Dialogue, Two Conversations.