Elf
“Discover your inner elf.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
4K TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-11-01
Top Cast
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Will Ferrell
Buddy
James Caan
Walter
Bob Newhart
Papa Elf
Ed Asner
Santa
Mary Steenburgen
Emily
Zooey Deschanel
Jovie
Daniel Tay
Michael
Faizon Love
Gimbels Manager
Peter Dinklage
Miles Finch
Amy Sedaris
Deb
Michael Lerner
Fulton
Andy Richter
Morris
Kyle Gass
Eugene
Artie Lange
Gimbels Santa
Leon Redbone
Leon the Snowman (voice)
Ray Harryhausen
Polar Bear Cub (voice)
Claire Lautier
NY 1 Reporter
Ted Friend
NY 1 Anchor
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 7, 2003
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 5, 2013
VOD & Digital Platforms
November 1, 2022
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$32M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$228.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
7.14x
+$196.5M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Screenplay & Story
- Jon Favreau
- Original Score
- John Debney
- Original Title
- Elf
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $32M
- Worldwide Gross
- $228.5M
- Production Studios
- New Line Cinema, Guy Walks into a Bar Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau, David Berenbaum
John Debney
Greg Gardiner
Dan Lebental
Kent Alterman, Cale Boyter, Toby Emmerich, Jimmy Miller, Julie Wixson Darmody
Department Leadership Roster
Jon Favreau
Director
John Debney
Original Music Composer
Dan Lebental
Editor
G.A. Aguilar
Stunt Coordinator
Joe Bauer
Visual Effects Supervisor
Todd Komarnicki
Producer
Greg Gardiner
Director of Photography
Shauna Robertson
Producer
Jon Berg
Producer
Laura Jean Shannon
Costume Design
Rusty Smith
Production Design
Scott J. Ateah
Stunt Coordinator
Lauren Ritchie
Visual Effects Supervisor
Bill Westenhofer
Visual Effects Supervisor
David Berenbaum
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
General — Suitable for all ages.
FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Elf.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Elf.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Elf
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Elf about?
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.
Who directed Elf?
Elf was directed by Jon Favreau.
Who stars in Elf?
The principal cast of Elf includes Will Ferrell, James Caan, Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen.
When was Elf released and how long is it?
Elf was released in 2003 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of Elf?
Elf had a reported production budget of $32M and grossed $228.5M at the worldwide box office (7.14 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Elf?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Elf was composed by John Debney.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Elf?
Elf holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); CA: G (General — Suitable for all ages.); DE: 6 (FSK 6 — Restricted to viewers aged 6 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).