‘Elf’ Turns 20 — Here’s How To Watch the Lighthearted Will Ferrell Christmas Film
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Quick Answer: Currently, Elf is available to stream on Max and Hulu with a subscription.
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Elf is more than a holiday film. Its classic storyline on the power of family ties and love makes this a movie worth watching all year long. However, as temperatures drop and snow lightly covers the ground, the season becomes a touch more magical with a dash of Will Ferrell’s ridiculous character.
Released in 2003 and directed by Jonathan Kolia Favreau (perhaps most known for his role in the Marvel franchise Iron Man), Elf follows Ferrell’s character, Buddy the Elf, who’s on the verge of an identity crisis. After traveling to New York to rediscover his humanity and find his father, who didn’t know Buddy existed, he ends up falling in love, bringing a broken family together, and just barely saves Christmas through the power of believing.
Though there are some serious topics addressed in the film, Ferrell’s acting is nothing short of spectacular, keeping the entire storyline lighthearted and comical. Between the epic snowball fights, brawling with Santa Claus, and syrup spaghetti dinners (it’s an acquired taste), this is a hilariously invigorating film that will keep you laughing the whole holiday season.
How to Watch Elf Online
While there are several ways to watch Elf online, the easiest is to stream on Max. This means having an active subscription.
The service costs $15.99 a month, which gets you ad-free viewing, streaming on two devices, and 30 downloads for on-the-go entertainment. The Max subscription also gets you access to the streamer’s other acclaimed series like Insecure and The Sopranos, as well as highly-anticipated specials like the Friends reunion. You’ll also get instant access to Max’s slate of movies premiering same-day in theaters, like In the Heights.
Need a budget-friendly option? The streamer also launched an ad-supported plan that lets you watch Max for just $9.99 a month. If you’ve been considering signing up, now’s the time—the Max deal is 70% off a regular subscription price, at just $2.99 for six months.
You can also try the new annual plan, which gives you 11% off Max if you prepay for 12 months of service ($99.99 with ads, $149.99 without). That HBO Max deal gets you a subscription for cheaper than paying month to month.
If you’re interested in purchasing the classic film for a lifetime of laughter, you can also purchase it for $9.99 with Amazon.
How to Watch Elf Free Online
Just like Disney+, Max doesn’t currently offer a free trial. However, there’s still a way for you to stream the movie for free, and that’s with Hulu’s free trial.
Hulu offers a 30-day free trial which will not only get you instant access Elf, but to all of Hulu’s programming. Stream hit original series like The Kardashians or Only Murders in the Building, and for a limited time at only $0.99/month for a year. Plus, you can bundle both streaming services to receive both Hulu’s and Max’s programming for free for a month.
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