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Elf (2003 film)

Elf is a 2003 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Elf is a 2003 American Christmas comedy film directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum. It stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves who travels to New York City to find his biological father. The film was released by New Line Cinema on November 7, 2003, and became a commercial success.

Plot

The story centers on Buddy, a human raised as an elf at the North Pole, who learns the truth about his identity and travels to New York City to find his birth father. His journey contrasts the North Pole’s innocence with the cynicism of the human world.

Cast and characters

Will Ferrell plays Buddy, while James Caan portrays Walter Hobbs, Buddy’s biological father. Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner, and Bob Newhart appear in major supporting roles.

Production and release

Directed by Jon Favreau from a screenplay by David Berenbaum, the film was released by New Line Cinema in 2003. It was produced in the United States and filmed in English.

Reception and legacy

Elf performed well commercially, grossing $228.9 million worldwide against a $33 million budget, and has since been widely described as a Christmas favourite. Its enduring popularity has made it a regular fixture in holiday film programming. In Canada, the film is frequently broadcast and referenced as a popular Christmas film, familiar to audiences through holiday television programming and home viewing.

Key facts

  • The film follows Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole by Santa’s elves, who later discovers his origins.
  • Buddy travels to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who is unaware of Buddy’s existence.
  • The cast includes Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner, and Bob Newhart.
  • Elf grossed $228.9 million worldwide against a $33 million budget.
  • It is widely regarded as a modern Christmas classic.
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Canadian context

Elf is frequently broadcast and referenced in Canada as a popular Christmas film, and it is familiar to Canadian audiences through holiday television programming and home viewing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Elf about?
It follows Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole, who goes to New York City to find his biological father and learns to navigate the human world.
Who directed Elf?
Elf was directed by Jon Favreau.
Who wrote Elf?
The film was written by David Berenbaum.
When was Elf released?
Elf was released in the United States on November 7, 2003.
Who stars in Elf?
The film stars Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Asner, and Bob Newhart.
How successful was Elf at the box office?
It grossed about $228.9 million worldwide against a reported $33 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film)
    Supports: Director, writer, cast, release date, plot summary, budget, worldwide gross, and general reception
  2. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/elf-2003
    Supports: Plot premise and central character background
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/elf
    Supports: Release date, cast, plot details, and family-oriented description