Elves is a 2033 animated Christmas musical comedy film, serving as a spin-off prequel to The Christmas Movie franchise. It is co-written and directed by Brandon Greene, and produced by The SPA Studios and Atomic Cartoons, and distributed by Netflix. The film stars the voices of Chris Pratt, Kelly Clarkson, Jack McBrayer, Zachary Levi, James Corden, Gina Rodriguez, Nick Jonas, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Hart, Janelle Monáe, Peter Dinklage, Lewis Black, Wanda Sykes, Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, Lizzo, Pitbull, and Blake Shelton. It was first foreshadowed during the credits of The Christmas Movie 2 (2025), where Steve (Pratt) and Holly (Clarkson), two of the elves and the film's main characters, are seen setting up other elves for the audition for the film. In the film, the elves search for their replaceable boss after, one-by-one, accidentally killing all their past leaders throughout history and are recruited by Kris Kringle (Levi) to help him deliver toys to the children of Gloomsburg. This will all lead to Kris becoming Santa Claus and the creation of Christmas.
Elves was released on November 23, 2033 on Netflix as part of the 10th anniversary of The Christmas Movie. It received mixed reviews from critics, some praised the comedic aspects of the film, the creative origin story of both the elves and Santa, and the vocal performances of Levi as Kris, but criticized that they felt that the title characters were not able to carry the film on their own. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song for Kelly Clarkson's "Grown-Up Christmas List". A stage musical adaptation of The Christmas Movie was released on the same day as Elves. The film spawned two sequels: Elves World Tour (2040) and Elves 3 (2047).
Plot[]
While watching their previous adventures in a home movie theater (a parody of Mystery Science Theater 3000), Steve decides to tell the elflings Gus, Ginger, Mason, and Olivia the story of the elves, how they met Santa Claus, and how they were directly involved in the creation of Christmas and the traditions in response to both the elflings' questions and the letters sent by children, which began billion years ago before Ben, Patrick, and Teddy's adventure.
Elves are short, pointy-eared creatures which have existed since the beginning of time, evolving from single-celled organisms into diminutive beings, which exist only to serve the perfect boss, but they accidentally end up killing all their leaders: rolling a Tyrannosaurus into a volcano, letting a caveman get mauled by a saber-toothed tiger, crushing a Pharaoh and his subjects with a pyramid, and burning an old shoemaker to death with an oven after setting it too high. They started off as mischievous tricksters, but slowly became more kind and generous little people who like to sing, dance and hug. During this time before the accidental death of their shoemaker boss, they learned how to make toys during their spare time, which became their main purpose of existence. They are driven into isolation after firing a cannon at a Roman emperor while in Turkey and start a new life in a snowy forest inside a cave.
The head elf, Earl and Steve's father, Bernard, the leader of the scout elves find a baby with a name tag reading "Claus" hidden in parts of the cave and they take the baby to the fairies and nymphs of the Northern Forest. The Head Master Ak forsees the baby's future and that he might be the key to regain the elves' purpose. He says that he must be sent far away and Earl and Bernard send the baby to a small town called Gloomsburg, Norway which is ruled by Augustus Mannheimer, the grouchy, ill-tempered, child-hating Burgomaster. Mannheimer orders Wiggins, his aide, to take Baby Claus to an orphanage, but a gust of wind sweeps the baby far away to the Mountains of the Whispering Winds.
A group of animals hide him from the Winter Warlock, a powerful wizard who dislikes anyone trespassing on his land. Baby Claus is rescued by a group of animals who transport him to the Kringles, a family of elves. They rename him Kris and raise him, teaching him how to make toys. At first the elves are happy and living their lives making toys, but after many years, the elves become sad and unmotivated without a boss to serve. Bernard and his wife Carol set off into retirement to find their tribal ancestors, leaving The vain and superficial Luke as the new scout elf leader. Seeing the stack of toys the elves made during the years prompts Steve and his crush, Holly to go out on a quest to find a new leader for their brethren to donate their toys.
When Kris is old enough, he travels to Gloomsburg to deliever the toys. Steve and Holly are traveling, they stop at the Kringle house. Tanta tells Steve and Holly that they're known for making toys like they do, having been "the first toymakers to the king" long ago. The pair decide to head to Gloomsburg, and the Kringles handed them new suits and warn them to keep an eye out for the Winter Warlock. As Steve and Holly walk through the Mountains of the Whispering Winds, they meet two other elves named Eddie and Milo who are carrying a one-antlered reindeer on a pole to eat, but releases it. They explained to Steve and Holly that they work for the town's mayor—Burgomaster Mannheimer—comprising nearly all of the populace. Thinking that they found their perfect boss, they decide to go to Gloomsburg with Eddie and Milo and the reindeer who they named Comet.
Meanwhile, Mannheimer, having tripped over a toy duck, enacts a law prohibiting toys. The four elves arrive and meet Kris and a penguin named Topper. Kris presents Steve and Holly with toys. Seeing that Kris is a toymaker as well, he and the two elves bestow them on the local children, and Eddie and Milo also joined in when they discovered that they can also make good toys. They are briefly stopped by Miss Jessica, a local schoolteacher who at first doesn't take kindly to him and the elves giving out toys, but quickly warms up to them when Kris gives her a China doll as a "peace offering". Finding their new boss at last, Steve writes a letter to their friends to come to Gloomsburg for help. Back in the village, Luke receives the letter and he and timid scout elf Larry leave the village to find his way through the Mountains of the Whispering Winds, followed by Larry's friend Carl, cynical baker Sugarplum Mary, easy-going Roberto, and the spy elves (Tinsel, Kat and Lilia).
Afterwards back in Gloomsburg, Mannheimer arrives and, upon seeing the children playing with the toys, almost arrests them for violating the law, but Kris and Steve confess it was them who gave them the toys and Eddie and Milo were even a part of it. Before the soldiers can arrest them, Kris gives Mannheimer a yo-yo, which he initially enjoys (admitting he loved playing with yo-yos when he was a kid), only for Wiggins to remind him that he is breaking his own law. Enraged, Mannheimer orders Kris and the elves' arrest, prompting them to flee into the forest with Comet and Topper. As Kris, Steve, Holly, Eddie, Milo, Topper, and Comet pass through the forest, the elves and two animals are captured by the Winter Warlock, but the Warlock befriends them after he is given a toy train by Kris. To repay them, Winter shows Kris and the elves how to make a magic snowball, showing that other elves are searching for them. Steve and Holly find the others elves and introduces Eddie and Milo to them and that they'll be working with them. Holly writes another letter to contact the rest of the elves to get them to join. Steve introduces their friends to Kris and Jessica. Maddie, an elf who serves as the school teaching aide in Gloomsburg, sympathizes with the children and informs Steve, Holly, Eddie, and Milo that Mannheimer destroyed all of the toys them and Kris previously delivered and the children now request new ones. She gives them some pointers, and helps them build a sled for a small Sámi girl named Márge, who lives in an isolated settlement with her people. Walter capitalizes on the idea to make progress on their goal and asks Kris if he can donate their toys; Kris agrees to this, provided they operate at night and the elves continues to deliver the toys in secret.
The Kringles also move from Rainbow River Valley onto Winter's mountain, since they now granted them unlimited access across his territory. As more elves arrive at the Kringle house and children keep writing letters to Kris, Steve tells a boy who had earlier picked on him, Holly, Eddie, and Milo that Kris knows whenever any child misbehaves and only gives toys to good children. This prompts the children to perform acts of kindness, which gradually inspire the rest of the townsfolk. As Steve is writing another letter to the rest of the elves about their new job and boss, Márge and the rest of her people arrive at the Kringle house to help out Kris and the elves. To prevent further toy distribution, Mannheimer orders all doors and windows locked, but Kris enters by the chimneys and places toys in the children's stockings. To make sure Kris doesn't get caught, Steve, Holly, Eddie, Milo, Larry, and the spy elves keep prepping the houses. They manage to deliver the toys to the children without getting caught by the guards, only for Luke to get captured and taken hostage.
Growing frustrated with his inability to stop Kris and the elves, Mannheimer sets a trap for Kris, while he orders Wiggins and the soldiers to jail the elves, the Kringles, the Sámi people, Topper and Winter and destroy the workshop in retributions. Holly, Eddie, Milo, and Maddie try to escape, but Mannheimer shows up and captures them, and Holly becomes horrified to learn that Luke, in exchange for his own freedom, betrayed them to Mannheimer. He steals Holly's cowbell and for their betrayal, Luke and Mannheimer leave Holly, Eddie, Milo, and Maddie in a deep hole to be executed. One of Mannheimer’s soldiers, Aksel tries to capture Steve, but he escapes to a waterfall and manages to survive. Luke uses Holly's cowbell to summon Earl and the rest of the elves, whom Mannheimer’s soldiers capture and taken to the dungeon, while he personally captures Kris, who surrenders willingly once he sees Topper being taken hostage outside. With the Kringles, the elves, and most of their allies now in the dungeon, the Mannheimer sets fire to the children's toys in front of them, declaring they will never play with toys again.
Jessica pleas to Mannheimer to release Kris, the elves, the Kringle clan, the Sámi people, and Winter, but her pleas falls on deaf ears as Mannheimer dismisses her. Realizing now that all of Gloomsburg and Mannheimer are against her, Jessica finds Walter and with help from Larry and Márge (who have both escaped Mannheimer's trap), they rescued Holly, Eddie, Milo, and Maddie. As Holly tells Steve that Luke was nothing but a cowardly traitor and that Mannheimer and his soldiers captured the others, They discovered an abandoned church in Myra and come across an old poverty-stricken townsman. She told Jessica and the elves about how Kris as a young boy, rescued her daughters from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so he could pay a dowry for each of them. The gift to the girls saved them. The elves learned that Kris's real name is Nicholas.
Steve, Holly, and Jessica visit Winter in prison, where he reveals that he has lost all his magic except for some enchanted corn that enables Comet and the rest of his reindeer friends - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen - who then use their new flying ability to help Kris, the elves, and their companions escape, enraging Mannheimer when he discovers them making a break for it and orders his guards to recapture them. Steve, Holly, and the rest of the elves manage to escape the guards and sneak around the palace to the gates. During the escape, one of the soldiers, Askel knocks Comet down with a stalactite and pursues with his army and try to destroy the toys and kill the elves and Kris. Steve tries to stop Mannheimer and his soldiers from destroying the remaining toys; during the resulting chase, Luke, in a chariot, attempts to stop them but accidentally smashes into Aksel's chariot, which sends both their chariots into a ditch, killing Aksel. Though Luke manages to survive the fall, he is floated off to sea far away. Mannheimer seemingly destroys all of the toys; however, Holly and Maddie had already replaced the toys with decoys after the town's children warned them of the Mannheimer's ambush. Steve and Holly accompany Comet, who wakes up, but his remaining antler is broken off by the hit. Augustus makes an oath that the Mannheimer family shall hunt them down.
Soon after having spent months of being outlaws, Kris, now sporting a beard as a disguise, returns to his "Claus" name, as Earl now remembers that Kris was the same baby he and Bernard found years ago. Kris asks Jessica to share the name Claus with him and they get married. After the wedding, the elves say goodbye to Márge and her family in hopes that they'll meet again. They travel to the North Pole to establish a toy workshop. During this time, Roman emperor Constantine The Great allowed Christians to worship freely, helping to unite and promote the faith. He went on to instigate the celebration of the birth of Christ, the elves call Christmas. Years later, Steve and Holly went to see the fairies and nymphs. As Kris nears the end of his life, he suggests that his friends remember him by decorating a tree every year. Steve explains there was no boss like him and after hearing about the elves’ life with Kris and the way he inspired all the elves, Ak and the others unanimously vote to give Kris, along with Jessica, and the reindeer immortality. Eventually, the toy ban is revoked when people of Gloomsburg (which was now renamed Joysburg) realize how silly the Mannheimers' laws were once Augustus and his descendants died off and lost power over the town. Thanks to the elves, Kris is deemed a saintly figure, officially becoming Santa Claus. Due to the rising demand for toys, Santa limits his gift-giving to December 24th, Christmas Eve, "The Night of Profound Love". As Santa, Steve, Holly, and some of the other elves prepare to head out on that night, Winter tells him that he has regained his magic and can guarantee a white Christmas. Mrs. Claus and the other elves wave goodbye to Steve, Holly, and Santa as they fly away on the sleigh through the night sky and that is how the plot will be set up for The Christmas Movie.
In a mid-credits scene, a bearded and bedraggled Luke is shown to be floating at sea and is greeted by Bernard and Carol on a small boat. He asked them for help but, he ends up being eaten by a whale. In a post-credits scene, Gus asks why those “squiggles” are on the screen, and Steve explains that they are end credits. This worries Gus and insists on watching the movie again. Steve asks if they also want to watch it again. Mason initially declines, but Holly, Larry, Eddie, Milo, Maddie, Carl, Earl, Mary, Roberto, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all the other elves flood the theater and persuade him to let Walter rewind it. Mason reluctantly agrees and Steve plays the film again.
Voice cast[]
- Chris Pratt as Steve, a kind, hardworking, enthusiastic, and humorous everyman scout elf who sets off with Holly to find a boss to work for, which they end up with Kris and help bring much-needed happiness to Gloomsburg.
- Kelly Clarkson as Holly, a sweet and optimistic scout elf and Steve's love interest with lots of confidence, hope, curiosity, and a passion for singing, and helps Kris deliver toys to the children of Gloomsburg.
- Jack McBrayer as Larry, a timid scout elf who is friends with Steve and Carl.
- Zachary Levi as Kris Kringle, a young human who was raised by the Kringle elves and helps Steve and Holly deliver toys to the children of Gloomsburg. His birth name is Nicholas.
- J. K. Simmons as Santa Claus
- Ocean Ortiz as 8-year old Kris
- Ronin Willingham as 14-year-old Kris
- James Corden as Carl, a dim-witted scout elf who is friends with Steve and Larry.
- Gina Rodriguez as Miss Jessica, Gloomsburg’s school teacher who falls in love with Kris.
- Blake Shelton as Earl, the head elf and mentor to all of the other elves.
- Nick Jonas as Luke, the superficial leader of the scout elves, Steve's arrogant, conceited, and preppy rival for Holly's affection, who is actually a fraud. He is also the secondary antagonist of the film.
- Jason Sudeikis as Eddie, a level-headed, grumpy, and sarcastic elf, Milo's buddy, and Mannheimer’s former soldier, who befriends Steve and Holly.
- Kevin Hart as Milo, a cautious but bold and calmer elf, Eddie's buddy, and Mannheimer’s former soldier, who befriends Steve and Holly.
- Janelle Monáe as Maddie, a kindhearted elf, Gloomsburg’s teaching aide, Eddie's love interest, and Milo's closest friend, who befriends Steve and Holly.
- Peter Dinklage as The Winter Warlock, an immortal hermit with vast magic that lives on the Mountain of the Whispering Winds and Kris and the elves’ former enemy turned friend.
- Lewis Black as Augustus Mannheimer, the grouchy and abusive Burgomaster of Gloomsburg and Eddie and Milo’s former boss who despises toys, children, and anything fun. He is the main antagonist of the film. Mannheimer is inspired by the villainous Burgermeister Meisterburger from the 1970 Rankin/Bass television special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town.
- Pitbull as Roberto, a slick party animal elf and Holly's closest/best friend.
- Wanda Sykes as Sugarplum Mary, an cynical baker elf who can be frequently found cooking up some amazing and inventive culinary concoctions.
- Bebe Rexha as Tinsel, a green-haired elf, one of the spy elves.
- Charli XCX as Kat, a red-haired elf, one of the spy elves.
- Lizzo as Lilia, a indigo-haired elf, one of the spy elves.
- Martin Short as Wiggins, Mannheimer's law keeper and the tertiary antagonist of the film.
- Allison Janney as Tanta Kringle, the elf queen, the head of the Kringle family, and the guardian of Kris Kringle when he was a child.
- Jason Statham as Aksel, one of Mannheimer's soldiers.
- Alan Tudyk as:
- Topper, a lost penguin who was trying to find his way to the South Pole.
- The Kringle brothers, Dingle, Wingle, Bingle, Tingle, and Zingle
- Mannheimer guards
- Paul, one of the elves
- Townspeople
- Jock, a pilot elf
- A poverty-stricken townsman who Kris helped to prevent his daughters from prostitution.
- Neda Margrethe Labba as Márge, a young Sámi girl who becomes well-acquainted with the elves despite their language barrier.
- Adam Carolla as Muggs, the sarcastic ferryman of Gloomsburg who enjoys humor that comes at others' expense.
- David Krumholtz as Bernard, Carol's husband, Steve's father, and the former leader of the scout elves.
- Nasim Pedrad as Carol, Bernard's wife and Steve's mother.
- Keith David as Ak, the Head Master of the fairies and nymphs of the Northern Forest.
- Ariel Winter as Nellie, one of the prepper elves.
- Olivia Colman as Elfie, one of the prepper elves.
- Sarah Hyland as Trixie, one of the prepper elves.
- Nick Kroll as Strudel, a passionate dancing German elf.
- George Lopez as Pepper Minstix, the guardian of the Village's secret location.
- Bill Nighy as Shinny Upatree, the oldest elf and Santa's Village co-founder.
- David Koechner as Wunorse Openslae, the creator of Santa's magical flying sleigh.
- Hugh Laurie as Alabaster Snowball, the administrator of Santa's Naughty or Nice List.
- Jeff Dunham as Bushy Evergreen, the inventor of the amazing Magnetic Kinetic Toy Hulla-Ballu toy making machine.
- Christian Slater as Sam, a bartender elf.
- Billy Stamos as Gus, one the elflings listening to the story of the elves and how they met Santa Claus.
- Thea Eddey as Ginger, one the elflings listening to the story.
- Fox Messitt as Mason, one the elflings listening to the story.
- Matilda Flower as Olivia, one the elflings listening to the story.
- Billy West as Lou, one of the elves.
- Steve Vinovich as the Doctor
- Brandon Greene as:
- Townspeople
- Ken, one of the prepper elves
- Norbert, the Au Naturel elf
- The Elves
- April Winchell as Julie, one of Santa's elves
- Winchell also voices the female townspeople
- Natalie Martinez as Meg, a lawyer/model elf
- Stephen Zimpel as Dan, an engineer/model elf
- Enrique Santos as Nolan, one of the scout elves
- Jake Johnson as Barry, one of the scout elves
- Melissa Sturm as Katie, one of the elves
- Dave Franco as Willy, one of the elves
- Callum Kazee as Young Clark Hopeful, the younger version of Ben and Patrick's father.
- Arlene Grigoryan as Young Liz Hopeful, the younger version of Ben and Patrick's mother.
Music[]
Soundtrack[]
Music from and Inspired by Elves, the soundtrack of the film, it will be released on November 17, 2033. Kelly Clarkson contributed a cover song of Grown-Up Christmas List, JoJo Siwa contributed a cover song of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and Zedd and Aloe Blacc contributed the song Candyman, which are all playing at the film's credits. Janelle Monáe contributed a cover song of Winter Wonderland. For the film's first official trailer, The The's song This Is the Day from their album Soul Mining can be heard. The film's 1st teaser trailer features the song titled Whole World by Loch Lomond. The two songs are not featured in the actual film, but are still both on the film's soundtrack.
No. Title.......................................................................Music
- "Candyman"....................................Zedd, Aloe Blacc
- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"....................................JoJo Siwa
- "This Is the Day"....................................The The
- "Whole World"....................................Loch Lomond
- "Pennies From Heaven"....................................Louis Prima
- "Couldn't Be Better"....................................Kelly Clarkson, Elves Cast
- "The First Toymakers to the King"....................................Allison Janney, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Pratt
- "No More Toymakers to the King"....................................Lewis Black, Alan Tudyk
- "Color My World"....................................Blake Shelton, Nick Adams, Tony Sheldon, Fletcher Sheridan, Elves Cast
- "Put One Foot in Front of the Other"....................................Zachary Levi, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Pratt, Peter Dinklage, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Hart
- "Winter Wonderland"....................................Janelle Monáe
- "Shake Hands with Santa Claus"....................................Louis Prima
- "Christmas in Hollis"....................................Run-D.M.C.
- "What Will Santa Claus Say?"....................................Louis Prima
- "Wrapped in Red"....................................Kelly Clarkson
- "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 - Instrumental....................................Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- "Love Goes On"....................................Kelly Clarkson, Aloe Blacc
- "Couldn't Be Better (Reprise)"....................................Elves Cast
- "Underneath the Tree"....................................Kelly Clarkson
- "Grown-Up Christmas List"....................................Kelly Clarkson
- "Put One Foot in Front of the Other"....................................Quaker City String Band
Production[]
Development[]
Netflix and the SPA Studios first announced in October 2025, that the elves from the franchise would get their own spin-off film, originally scheduled for a 2028 release but delayed to 2033. Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger were asked to write the film's screenplay. Brandon Greene became director again.
Casting[]
Most of the elf cast from The Christmas Movie films return for the spin-off including: Chris Pratt and Kelly Clarkson as Steve and Holly (who are the film's main characters), Jack McBrayer as Larry, James Corden as Carl, Jason Sudeikis as Eddie, Kevin Hart as Milo, Blake Shelton as Earl the Head Elf, and Wanda Sykes as Sugarplum Mary. In February 2031, Zachary Levi joined the cast to voice Kris Kringle (Young Santa Claus), with Gina Rodriguez joining two months later as Miss Jessica (Young Mrs. Claus). In March 2033, it was announced that the voice of rapper Pitbull would be featured in the film for an unknown role. In June 2033, Nick Jonas and Peter Dinklage joined the voice cast of the film. In July 2033, comedians Lewis Black and Martin Short joined the film. It was announced that Charli XCX, Janelle Monáe, Bebe Rexha and Lizzo had been cast in the film.
Animation[]
The film was foreshadowed in the end credits scene of The Christmas Movie 2 (2025), where Steve and Holly, two of the elves and the film's main characters, are seen setting up six other elves for the audition for the film; three for winners and three for losers.
Marketing[]
Netflix, along with The SPA Studios and Atomic Cartoons and its partners spent $593 million in advertisements and promotion, across all media and platforms. The SPA Studios spent a total of $26.1 million on television advertisements for the film. The SPA Studios described the promotional campaign as the "largest and most comprehensive" in its history.
The Christmas Movie 10th Anniversary Celebration[]
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Christmas Movie, Elves is launching the biggest marketing campaign in its history, "Celebrate with St. Nicholas." It's a two year-long marketing bash that will feature star-studded events, product innovation, music collaborations, and unexpected partnerships meant to cement the brand's place in pop culture history. In November 2033, M&M's ran several Elves promotions to tie in with the movie's release. M&M's were offered "eggnog", "chocolate chip", and "sugar plums". They were sold at many stores displayed in huge cardboard-cutout elf displays. In November 7, 2033, the "Wheredafungo" promotion short film features advice from Steve and Holly to insert fun into celebrating Christmas, such as funny words in a business call.
Elves also kicked off the campaign with the release of "Candyman" a modern remake of Sammy Davis Jr.'s The Candy Man song (1972). Nostalgia and soulful riffs come together in this new version featuring Grammy award-winning artist Zedd and Grammy-nominated musician Aloe Blacc. The single is available for download in iTunes and streaming on Spotify, and comes with a full-length music video featuring Blacc, Zedd, and Steve, Holly, Eddie, Milo, Larry, Carl, and Maddie.
"Elves collaboration with Aloe Blacc and Zedd was not about creating a soundtrack for a new television spot. Rather, it's about inspiring a new generation of fans to sing along and celebrate with us," says de Pablos-Barbier. "It was also our ambition to be 'digital first' as we were able to create an incredible amount of engaging content through this partnership that will enable us to be culturally relevant with millennials and Gen Z fans."
The SPA Studios released several parody posters referencing holiday film classics. This time, however, they star the elves, Kris, Jessica, and even the new characters in the film. The stuido picked some of the most obvious seasonal favorites like Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Home Alone, now re-imagined with the elves' faces on them.
Release[]
Elves was released theatrically in select theaters on 8 November 2033, and was released digitally through Netflix on November 23, 2033 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Christmas Movie. It is the first film in the franchise to be released in theaters. In January 2029, Netflix reported the film was watched by 40 million members over its first four weeks of release.
The film was released a year later on December 1, 2033 on Freeform during 25 Days of Christmas.
Reception[]
Critical Response[]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which categorizes reviews only as positive or negative, 54% of 222 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.80/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Elves' brightly colored brand of comedic antics and insanity stretches to feature length in their self-titled Christmas Movie spinoff, with uneven but often hilarious results." According to the review aggregator Metacritic, which sampled 35 reviews and calculated a weighted average of 56 out of 100, Elves received "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.
Glenn Kenny of The New York Times gave the film a C, saying "Elves has idiosyncratic roots, but it's a franchise play all the way. Finally, even 5-year-olds have their own movie that mechanically cashes in on something they loved when they were younger". Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "I, too, once enjoyed the Elves, in the small doses that they came in. But the extra-strength Elves is, for better or for worse, too much of a good thing". Brian Truitt of USA Today gave the film two and a half stars out of four, saying, "Brian Lynch's screenplay features a series of amusing sight gags and physical comedy that mostly hits; watching the Elves play polo while riding Corgis is an exercise in cuteness". John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, writing: "Elves is like "One BIG Looney Tunes cartoon" that invents an unexpected and very enjoyable origin story for the big guy who gives out toys every Christmas eve. Shaking off most Yuletide clichés in favor of a from-scratch story about how even dubiously-motivated generosity can lead to joy, it contains echoes of other seasonal favorites (especially, in a topsy-turvy way, Dr. Seuss' Grinch) while standing completely on its own." Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a mixed review, calling the film over-complicated and saying: "What goodwill the movie does inspire owes more to the splendid visual world than to anything the story supplies." Jesse Hassenger of The A.V. Club gave the film a grade C− and wrote: "Like their Troll ancestors, the Elves combine an evergreen cuteness with a why-now lack of currency."
Some fans of the Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials were critical of the film and its premise, opining that Kris Kringle would have been the one who was mainly responsible for the creation of Christmas and it's traditions and that the elves would not be doing corny jokes, puns or gags.
Accolades[]
Elves was awarded a ReFrame Stamp in the category "Top 100-Grossing Holiday Feature" for involving identifying people in at least four of eight key areas of production. Kelly Clarkson Grown-Up Christmas List was nominated for Best Song in the 2033 Teen Choice Awards in the category "Choice Song From A Movie".
Sequel[]
Main article: Elves World Tour
Elves was followed by Elves World Tour, the fifth overall installment in The Christmas Movie franchise. In the film, the elves go on a tour with Elfis and his new band the Sleigh Riders while also trying to stop a Rock Elf from overthrowing the foreign music genres and destroying Christmas all together. A third Elves film is scheduled to be released in 2027.
Gallery[]
Main article: Elves (2033 film)/Gallery
Trivia[]
- The film's plot and characters are inspired by Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970), Minions (2015), Trolls (2016), UglyDolls (2019), and Klaus (2019).
- The scenes where Steve and the elflings are shown in silhouette commenting on the movie being shown before them, in a style nearly identical to that of Mystery Science Theater 3000. It is also similar to The Lion King 1½ (2004) (which also parodies Mystery Science Theater 3000).
- Like in The Christmas Movie and it's sequels, the casts who voiced the elves improvised some of their lines to add more humor.
- The scene where Kris and the elves escape from Mannheimer's soldiers was the same way as Indiana Jones fleeing the Hovitos from the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The sequence even keeps the music intact.
- The scene where the elves escape Mannheimer's dungeon is a reference to The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
- The film was released on the same day as The Christmas Musical, which was based on The Christmas Movie.
- It is the first and only film in the franchise to be released in theaters.
- It is the only film in the franchise to not be released on Friday as it is released on Wednesday.
- Santa Claus' origin is a merge between Saint Nicholas and the modern Santa.