"Elf" is a beloved Christmas comedy film that has captured the hearts of audiences since its release in 2003. Directed by Jon Favreau and starring Will Ferrell as the lovable Buddy, the movie has become a holiday classic, known for its humor, heartwarming story, and its exceptional quotability.
The film follows the journey of Buddy, a human who was mistakenly raised by elves at the North Pole. As he embarks on a quest to find his real father in New York City, he brings his childlike wonder and unapologetic enthusiasm with him. Buddy's innocent and naive outlook on the world, coupled with his humorous fish-out-of-water experiences, leads to a slew of memorable and hilarious quotes that have become iconic in the world of Christmas movies.
"Elf" manages to strike a perfect balance between humor and heart. It's a film that appeals to both children and adults, and its witty one-liners and clever dialogue can be appreciated by all. The film's messages about the importance of family, love, and spreading cheer resonate with audiences, making the quotes even more memorable.
The film's Christmas-themed setting and the clever juxtaposition of traditional holiday elements with modern-day cynicism provide a rich backdrop for humor. Buddy's attempts to make people believe in the magic of Christmas, his obliviousness to the everyday world, and his humorous encounters with various characters all contribute to the film's quotability.
Here are 50 of the best quotes from the Christmas classic "Elf."
Quotes from Buddy in 'Elf'
New Line Cinema
- "SANTA! Oh my God! Santa, here?! I know him! I know him!" - Buddy
- "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." - Buddy
- "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite." - Buddy
- "You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card." - Buddy
- "I love you! I love you! I LOVE YOU!" - Buddy
- "So, good news...I saw a dog today." - Buddy
- "There's room for everyone on the Nice List!" - Buddy
- "I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed 11 cookies into the VCR." - Buddy
- "Then I traveled through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, past the sea of twirly-swirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel." - Buddy
- "If you can sing alone, you sing in front of other people. There's no difference." - Buddy
- "Not now, Arctic Puffin!" - Buddy
- "I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it." - Buddy
- "I am a cotton-headed ninny muggins!" - Buddy
- "You stink! You smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like Santa." - Buddy
- "I thought maybe we could make gingerbread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and maybe even hold hands." - Buddy
- "Have you seen the toilets? They're ginormous!" - Buddy
- "What about Santa's cookies? I suppose parents eat those, too?" - Buddy
- "I think you're beautiful and I feel really warm when I am around you and my tongue swells up." - Buddy
- "Oh, it's not a costume. I'm an elf. Well, technically, I'm a human, but I was raised by elves." — Buddy
- "He must be a South Pole elf." - Buddy
- "This place reminds me of Santa's Workshop. Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me." - Buddy
- "I planned out our whole day. First we make snow angels for two hours, and then we'll go ice skating, and then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we'll snuggle." - Buddy
- "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" - Buddy answering the phone
- "You sit on a throne of lies!" - Buddy
- "Does somebody need a hug?"- Buddy
- "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup." - Buddy
- "Son of a nutcracker!" - Buddy
- "I painted a picture of a butterfly!" - Buddy
- "Francisco! That's fun to say! Francisco." - Buddy
Quotes from Santa in 'Elf'
New Line Cinema
- "Christmas spirit is about believing, not seeing." — Santa
- "Well, there are some things you should know. First off, you see gum on the street, leave it there. It isn't free candy." — Santa
- "I'm getting too old for this." — Santa
- "The paparazzi have been trying to nail me for years." — Santa
- "Buddy you should know that your father... he's on the naughty list." — Santa
- "Buddy, you're more of an elf than anyone I ever met and the only one who I would want working on my sleigh tonight." — Santa
- "If you see a sign that says 'Peep Show,' that doesn't mean that they're letting you look at presents before Christmas." — Santa
- "You believed in me. You made my sleigh fly!" — Santa
- "Listen, some people, they just lose sight of what's important in life. That doesn't mean they can't find their way again, huh? Maybe all they need is just a little Christmas spirit." -Santa
Quotes from Papa Elf in 'Elf'
New Line Cinema
- "Elves love to tell stories. I bet you didn't know that about elves." — Papa Elf
- "They tried to use gnomes and trolls, but the gnomes drank too much." — Papa Elf
- "As you can imagine, it's, uh, dangerous having an oven in an oak tree during the dry season." — Papa Elf
- "Some call it 'the show' or 'the big dance,' it's the profession that every elf aspires to — and that is to build toys in Santa's workshop." — Papa Elf
- "And where do the reindeer get their magic from? Christmas Spirit. Everybody knows that." — Papa Elf
Other Quotes in 'Elf'
New Line Cinema
- "Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad!" - Mr. Narwhal
- "What's more vulnerable than a peach?" - Morris
- "Of course you're not [an elf]. You're six-foot-three and had a beard since you were 15." - Leon the Snowman
- "Uh, you look like you came from the North Pole." — Walter Hobbs
- "We can't just throw him out in the snow." — Emily
- "Why not? He loves the snow. He's told me fifteen times." — Walter
- "Charlotte Dennon wants a Tiffany engagement ring and for her boyfriend...to commit already." — Michael
- "What about this: a tribe of asparagus children, but they're self-conscious about the way their pee smells." —Eugene
Elf is available for streaming on Prime Video.
