Overview
A heartwarming tale of holiday cheer and self-discovery in the bustling city.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- joyful
- witty
- warm
- christmas viewing
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a spirited, good-natured Christmas family comedy elevated by Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Buddy is raised by elves and then confronts ordinary human life, corporate work culture, and New York social conventions.
Buddy's search for Walter forces an emotionally distant father to reconsider work, family, and personal priorities.
The North Pole's toy-making world is juxtaposed with Buddy's exuberant encounters with contemporary New York City.
Will Ferrell's Buddy treats adult environments and everyday customs with the guileless intensity of an elf raised at the North Pole.
Films like Elf, and why
The Santa Clause
shared Christmas fantasy, family reconciliation, and warm comedic tone
A Christmas Story
shared fish out of water premise, holiday setting, and optimistic family comedy
Love Actually
shared Christmas ensemble, romantic subplot, and heartfelt holiday humor
Paddington
shared magical holiday premise, childlike sincerity, and feel-good comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Release Date
- 2003-11-07
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (4705)
Cast
- Will Ferrell
- James Caan
- Bob Newhart
- Ed Asner
- Mary Steenburgen
- Zooey Deschanel
- Daniel Tay
- Faizon Love
- Peter Dinklage
- Amy Sedaris
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Elf about?
- A relentlessly cheerful elf raised at the North Pole brings holiday magic, romantic hope, and overdue family reckoning to New York City.
- What is Elf like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Elf as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Elf violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Elf.
- What did critics think of Elf?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a spirited, good-natured Christmas family comedy elevated by Will Ferrell's funny and charming performance.
- Which films are like Elf?
- Films with a similar feel include The Santa Clause, A Christmas Story, Love Actually, and Paddington.
- How long is Elf?
- Elf runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Elf?
- In United States, Elf is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
