How to watch Elf online: stream the classic Will Ferrell Christmas movie anywhere

(Image credit: New Line Cinema)

There’s no person better at boosting Christmas spirit than Buddy! This 2003 movie from Jon Favreau, starring Will Ferrell as a naïve man-child raised by elves, has become a perennial holiday classic. And, if smiling’s your favorite too, keep reading as we detail how to watch Elf online, no matter where you in the world right now.

You know the story. Raised at the North Pole after crawling into Santa’s sack as a child, Buddy is a human brought up believing he’s an elf – despite being four times their size and terrible at toy making.

Watch Elf online

Released: November 7, 2003

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage

Run time: 97 minutes

Rating: U

Stream: Starz / HBO Max / Hulu (US) | Sky TV (UK) | Crave (CA) | Binge (Aus)

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When he finally realizes he was adopted, he departs for the mean streets of New York City to find his biological father. The only problem? That man is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical Scrooge who refuses to believe that Buddy is his long-lost son.

Favreau brings his knack for crowd-pleasing fare to this fantastical premise (he more recently helmed Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian and directed 2019’s The Lion King), while Will Farrell combines physical comedy with child-like sincerity to hilarious effect.

In addition, the excellent cast is rounded out by Zooey Deschanel as the disenchanted Jovie, Mary Steenbergen (Happiest Season) as Buddy’s Stepmother, and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), making a memorable cameo appearance.

So, don’t be a cotton headed ninny muggins! Read on for how to watch Elf online now, and stream this Christmas classic from anywhere.

Related: how to watch Home Alone online

How to watch Elf from outside your country

Escaping to a winter wonderland over the holidays, or planning a sun-soaked beach getaway? If you find yourself abroad, then unfortunately regional restrictions will prevent you from connecting to your usual VoD platform back home.

Luckily for fans of holiday flicks, there’s a simple solution. Downloading a Virtual Private Network (VPN) will enable you to alter your IP address. Meaning? You’ll be able to access geo-blocked content no matter where in the world you’re streaming from.

Use a VPN to watch Elf online from anywhere

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How to watch Elf online in the US

There are a number of ways to watch Elf if you're Stateside, all at varying price points. For those with an Amazon Prime Membership, you can subscribe to Starz to watch Elf, offering a 7-day free trial to new customers. Thereafter it'll cost $8.99 a month on top of your annual or monthly Prime Video subscription.

You can also access Starz through a Sling TV subscription. For new customers, Sling TV costs just $10 for your first month, saving $25 on the cable alternative. To access Starz content, you'll then need to pay an additional fee per month. Right now it costs just $5 extra.

Both HBO Max and Hulu also host Elf on their respective platforms, alongside a host of other festive movies and top-draw entertainment. There is a 30-day Hulu free trial available on both Hulu's Ad and No Ad plans, or a 7-day trial with Hulu with Live TV.

How to watch Elf online in Canada

Those in the Great White North can watch Elf online over the festive period with a subscription to Crave.

There is a 7-day FREE trial available for new Crave subscribers with the option of its two plans. Crave Mobile is the cheaper of the two at $9.99 a month + tax, limiting you to streaming through a browser or on its mobile app only. For $19.99 a month get Crave Total, which allows support across a number of devices and allows 4 simultaneous streams.

Abroad over the holidays and unable to watch seasonal classics like Elf? Use a VPN to get connected to your preferred IPTV service, and feel the warm glow of home from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Elf: stream the movie online in the UK

Elf is available to watch in the UK for Sky TV customers on Sky Cinema. Watch Buddy the elf spread the Christmas spirit on-demand and, if you've yet to find the package for you, you can check out our Sky TV deals page for the best offers currently available.

Alternatively, get a NOW Cinema pass for a more flexible option to watching Sky Cinema titles.

You can also rent Elf on Amazon for £3.49 or buy it outright for £5.99.

And don't forget, purchasing a VPN can help you ride your sleigh around geo-blocks and watch your home streaming services from anywhere in the world – all while keeping your personal information more secure online, too.

How to watch Elf online and stream the Christmas classic in Australia

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Daniel Pateman is a freelance writer, producing articles across the cultural spectrum for magazines like Aesthetica, Photomonitor, The Brooklyn Rail and This is Tomorrow. He also provides text-writing services to individual curators and artists worldwide, and has had work published internationally. His favourite film genre is horror (bring on Scream 5!) and he never tires of listening to Absolute 80s on the radio.