Will Ferrell Attends NHL Game In ‘Elf’ Costume, With A Cigarette And A Frown

Actor Will Ferrell turned a few heads on Sunday when he showed up to an NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers dressed in his costume from the popular 2003 Christmas comedy “Elf.”

The 57-year-old comedian donned his Buddy the Elf costume but not his demeanor, as multiple snapshots show Ferrell looking grim and watching the game with what appeared to be an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. The actor attended the game at Los Angeles’s Crypto.com Arena with his wife, Viveca Paulin, and their son Axel, 14, per People.

FanDuel Sports Network broadcaster Carrlyn Bathe reported live from the game saying she spoke to Ferrell, who reportedly said “it was a tough holiday season” and “he’s looking for a Kings win.” Ultimately, the actor got his wish as the Kings beat the Flyers 5-4.

Buddy the Elf isn’t looking too good these days… ???????? pic.twitter.com/tGgo6KGFSf

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 30, 2024

“Elf” has become a Christmastime staple. It follows a human named Buddy (Ferrell) who is adopted by elves after sneaking into Santa’s sack while he’s visiting an orphanage. Chaos ensues when Buddy travels to New York City during the holiday season to meet his birth father, book publisher Walter Hobbs (James Caan).

Buddy is known for being childlike, exuberant, naive, and full of over-the-top Christmas spirit. He’s thrust into many uncomfortable situations with jaded New Yorkers, but over the course of the film, he teaches them to embrace Christmas magic. 

The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing $220 million worldwide against a $33 million budget. Ferrell was specifically praised for his depiction of Buddy.

Ferrell turned down an “Elf” sequel and an offer of $29 million to reprise his starring role. “I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good,’” Ferrell explained. “And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie,’” he said in 2021, per IndieWire.

The “SNL” alum told People earlier this month that he’s proud of the film’s impact. “It’s really quite special,” the actor said. “I mean, it continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and it continues to kind of entrench itself as kind of a holiday classic for people. I’m so lucky to have a movie like that in my catalog.”