Elf came out in 2003 and starred Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf. This film quickly became a fan favorite, and for many, it is the best Christmas film ever made, full of hilarious moments and a cute story.
While there are so many reasons to love it, the memorable dialogue arguably stands above the rest, which will be discussed right here and now. From holiday-themed quotes regarding Santa, singing, and snow angels to random ones about candy, whispering, and favorite colors, this flick has so many quotable moments! Without further ado, here are the 10 best quotes from Elf!
‘‘I Know Him!’’
At one point, Buddy begins working at a department store, and it is announced that Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance. When Buddy hears this, he freaks out in the best way possible.
After all, he does know Santa! While hearing this news would be great for anyone, it is especially nice for Buddy to hear, since he has been alone in the city and since he is the most spirited elf of all time. These days, when people hear a Santa announcement like this, they make repeat this exact line: “Santa! Oh my god! Santa's coming! I know him! I know him!”
“...Then We’ll Snuggle”
Obviously, since Buddy is six-foot-three and has had a beard since he was 15, he was not born an elf. However, he was raised as one, so he has a unique view of what constitutes "fun." While some people his age may enjoy watching TV or listening to music, Buddy's idea of a perfect day is a bit different
First, we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle.
The fact that he wanted to snuggle with his father is the cutest thing ever!
“I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed 11 cookies into the VCR”
Another time that Buddy wrote out something special was when he wrote an apology letter. What was he sorry for exactly? Well, first, he thought he ruined his new family members’ lives. Then, he realized it probably was not the best idea to cram 11 cookies into the VCR.
So, next time someone owes someone else an apology, feel free to steal the above quote from this flick, in order to provide some comic relief.
‘‘Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer’’
As stated, there are so many fabulous moments from this film, and overall, it is a touching story that teaches everyone a lesson; we could all stand to take some notes from Buddy the Elf, as he is full of happiness and kindness.
One reason Buddy is so great is because of his upbringing at the North Pole. There, he learned that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Nowadays, this quote is repeated by fans each year, during the most wonderful time of the year!
‘‘Four Main Food Groups’’
Another hilarious elf-related line came when Buddy tells Walter, Emily, and Michael about his favorite foods: “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: Candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.”
There would be several cool things about being an elf, but getting to eat all sugary sweets all the time would certainly be close to the top of that list.
Son Of A Nutcracker!
Buddy has a child-like innocence, so another iconic line of his is “son of a nutcracker,” which is used as a sort of curse when he feels pain or anger.
It is a very quotable line, and it can be used in the place of not-so-nice expressions and reactions, too. While it is a Christmas-themed line, it is said by fans all year round, as an ode to this hilarious story and its iconic character.
‘‘I Like To Whisper, Too’’
On a similar note, there is Buddy saying that he would “like to whisper, too,” after he sees his dad and Deb doing it. This is a pretty basic line, so if fans quote it out in the wild, then only other true fans of Elf will get it… and then they may become best friends.
While it is simple, this moment stands out as one of the character's defining quotes, helping to show off Buddy the Elf's uninhibited and playful nature.
‘‘Cotton-Headed Ninny Muggins’’
When people - for example- stub their toe, they may blurt out “son of a nutcracker.” And when people see someone doing something dumb or when they themselves are being not very smart, they may use this next line from Elf: “I'm a cotton-headed ninny muggins!”
As everyone who has seen this film knows, this got a real gasp after Buddy said it about himself, so it must be pretty bad. Thankfully, he was told that he is not actually a cotton-headed ninny muggins at all, though, so that’s good.
‘‘What’s Your Favorite Color?’’
Another fabulous line from this holiday flick comes when the main character answers the phone: “Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?”
Of course, that is how he would answer the phone! Of course, that is what he would want to know! And of course, this is another thing that people have been saying for years, ever since Elf was released in 2003. It may not always be appropriate, like when picking up a call at a publishing company, but it is guaranteed to get some smiles from cheerful Christmas-loving people. And, that brings us to the final quote on this list...
‘‘Smiling’s My Favorite’’
As mentioned, Buddy enjoys Santa, eating cookie dough, snuggling, eating sweet foods, whispering, and singing; however, his favorite activity is smiling.
This is something that many can relate to out in the world. This is something that is cute to say (but best when Will Ferrell said it, obviously). This is something to keep in mind, since a smile can go a long way. And this is something else to absolutely love about Elf.