Elf

Movie • 2003 • Comedy  

Report
When young Buddy falls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve, he's transported back to the North Pole and raised as a toy-making elf by Santa's helpers. But as he grows into adulthood, he can't shake the nagging feeling that he doesn't belong. Buddy vows to visit Manhattan and find his real dad, a workaholic publisher.
This movie contains 26 potentially triggering events.
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Both
Yes
No

Your Triggers
Does the dog die?
1 supporters
Yes
1
No
57
6
mermy
"good news, I saw a dog today!"
1 comment | Add comment
Abandonment
2
NakNakNak
Buddy leaves for New York, but everyone knows he's leaving and some of his animal friends bid him farewell.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
15
No
1
2
SiRenfield
The main character was placed in an orphanage shortly after birth
1 comment | Add comment
Is an animal abandoned?
85 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Abuse
Yes
2
No
6
4
Jackaellk
Buddy's father is neglective but by the end of the film it's a classic Christmas movie turn around and he fixes his mistake
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
3
Is someone stalked?
22 supporters
Yes
0
No
37
11
You could argue that Buddy maybe accidentally stalks Walter but, like anything else he does in the movie, he had no ill intentions. He just wanted to know his father and form a healthy relationship with him, but didn’t understand human social norms since he was raised by elves.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there domestic violence?
72 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
38
Is a woman brutalized for spectacle?
78 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
6
Yes
3
No
38
4
heyjackie
The definition of gaslighting is to manipulate someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning. The elves were not gaslighting Buddy.
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone abused with a belt?
23 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Is a child abused?
95 supporters
Yes
5
No
42
15
IndigoQuail
There's no abuse, but the father is emotionally disconnected from the son.
3 comments | Add comment
Addiction
Yes
1
No
38
Is there addiction?
16 supporters
Yes
1
No
35
8
Buddy is obviously addicted to sugar
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
52
No
1
16
Antares Harrison
Buddy's friend" from the mailroom drinks heavily and gets Buddy into trouble (sent to jail but is bailed out shortly afterward)
3 comments | Add comment
Animal
Were animals harmed in the making?
124 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
9
Does a horse die?
85 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
44
Does an animal die?
(besides a dog, cat or horse)
155 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
49
Are animals abused?
175 supporters
Yes
0
No
45
14
Buddy was not abusing the raccoon. Any mild harassment was obviously by accident because the whole point is that he is clueless. He literally just talked to the raccoon for a moment and went in for a hug because at the North Pole he was used to animals being friendly and affectionate. He had no intention of hurting it or “bothering” it like the other commenter wrongly said.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
43
Is there a dead animal?
98 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
37
Is an animal sad?
73 supporters
Yes
7
No
1
5
Jackaellk
One of the (very fake looking) animals cries when Buddy leaves the North pole. Another one comforts him
1 comment | Add comment
Are rabbits harmed?
60 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Does a cat die?
154 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
49
Does a pet die?
141 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
20
Does a dragon die?
29 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
44
Are there spiders?
44 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
42
Are there alligators/crocodiles??
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Are there snakes?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
41
Are there sharks?
6 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Are there bugs?
30 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
43
Assault
Does a woman get slapped?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is someone drugged?
27 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is there pedophilia?
109 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
8
Is someone held under water?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Is rape mentioned?
79 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
9
Is someone beaten up by a bully?
21 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
2
No
11
7
ItsARockFact
There are a couple of short scenes in which the main character is held back, but this is usually played for laughs and does not result in any long term injury.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
45
11
Rh1annaR3in
No, but I would like to mention that Buddie accidently walks in on Jo in the shower (that could be insinituating SA)
4 comments | Add comment
Is someone's mouth covered?
10 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
4
1
No of course not
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Yes
5
No
33
11
oreoicecrem
there are a couple scenes where scissors are used to cut paper
1 comment | Add comment
Are any hands damaged?
16 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Are there dislocations?
7 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Is there throat mutilation?
36 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
8
No
21
7
booty.rose
when buddy sits on papa elf’s lap he struggles to breathe because he is getting squashed by how big buddy is. but it is all just in a joking manner
2 comments | Add comment
Is there decapitation?
32 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Is there cannibalism?
31 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
28
Yes
0
No
14
2
CassetteMeower
Nobody dies in this movie, but there is a scene where Buddy is very surprised and ends up falling on an elf, knocking them over. The elf is fine.
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone choked?
16 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is someone burned alive?
40 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
37
Is someone buried alive?
25 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
33
Is there body horror?
49 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is there amputation?
25 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
29
Does a head get squashed?
51 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
37
Is there Achilles Tendon injury?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
13
Is there a hanging?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
Does someone asphyxiate?
25 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Is there genital trauma/mutilation?
77 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
21
Does someone become unconscious?
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Does someone break a bone?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
35
Does someone have a seizure?
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
34
Are any teeth damaged?
50 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
39
Yes
1
No
35
9
IndigoQuail
Buddy gets a finger p***k at a doctor's office
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone tortured?
76 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
40
Does someone fall down stairs?
9 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
8
Yes
0
No
37
9
cherry
to add on to the other comment, it is vaguely implied but not explicitly stated
2 comments | Add comment
Is there eye mutilation?
89 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
35
Is someone stabbed?
15 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is there excessive gore?
83 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
17
Children
Yes
2
No
12
6
No, however, a child is accidentally taken from an orphanage and taken to the North Pole
2 comments | Add comment
Does a kid die?
47 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
Is a minor sexualized?
99 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
15
Creepy Crawly
Are there bedbugs?
15 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Death
Does someone sacrifice themselves?
12 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Does a major character die?
22 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Does a non-human character die?
22 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Does someone die?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
5
Disability
Yes
0
No
4
Is the r-slur used?
29 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
Drugs/Alcohol
Does someone overdose?
14 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
13
Family
Does a family member die?
22 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
1
Does a parent die?
23 supporters
Yes
44
No
1
13
Antares Harrison
Buddy's mother, Susan Wells, dies in childbirth offscreen before Buddy is taken to the north pole

1 comment | Add comment
Yes
11
No
16
7
cherry
lego sculptures made by an adult are damaged
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
5
No
32
12
HannahEalasaid
I guess technically Buddy is accidentally kidnapped
2 comments | Add comment
Does someone cheat?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
32
Fear
Are there ghosts?
9 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
Yes
45
No
12
13
fs
one early scene where Buddy does jack-in-the-box quality control could be considered like a jump scare
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
56
No
1
18
averyanderson2018
No nudity shown, but there is a shower scene in which Buddy walks into the shower room at the mall and hears Jovie singing, so he joins in.
3 comments | Add comment
2
TheDanderson
Buddy floats on a ice patch from the North Pole to NYC over the ocean. While this is a slow motion sequence, it could still be triggering.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there clowns?
10 supporters
Yes
36
No
13
13
.
When Buddy is sent to test out toys he tests Jack in the box toys.
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone possessed?
11 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
34
Is trypophobic content shown?
24 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Are there razors?
S.A.F.E. ALTERNATIVES® (1-800-DONTCUT)
14 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
4
Are there mannequins?
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
4
No
1
Gross
Does someone vomit?
92 supporters
Yes
92
No
1
41
Anonymous
He runs around in a revolving door and then vomits in a trash can but nothing is seen and the audio is extremely fake sounding, just there for comedic, pg purposes. I'm an extreme emetephobe and this doesn't bother me at all. I almost forgot about it and I hardly ever forget when there's vomit in a movie.
11 comments | Add comment
Yes
20
No
0
9
ProfessorProcyon
It's implied that a troll does in the opening scene, but it's not all that important to the plot.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there farting?
10 supporters
Add comment
Yes
5
No
1
Is someone eaten?
30 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Is there on-screen pooping?
37 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Does someone spit?
9 supporters
Yes
45
No
0
12
ProfessorProcyon
There's a fair amount of toilet humor in this movie.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there audio gore?
40 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
26
Large-scale Violence
Are there 9/11 depictions?
8 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
15
Law Enforcement
Is there copaganda?
27 supporters
Yes
0
No
26
12
No, in fact they’re portrayed as violent antagonists trying to stop Santa Claus.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
3
3
SiRenfield
Buddy is arrested and put in a holding cell but he’s bailed out immediately in the next scene
1 comment | Add comment
LGBTQ+
Are there transphobic slurs?
46 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Yes
0
No
5
Is there deadnaming or birthnaming?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Is there bisexual cheating?
23 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Is an LGBT+ person outed?
23 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Loss
Is a priceless artifact destroyed?
8 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Medical
Is electro-therapy used?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
35
Yes
51
No
0
13
Antares Harrison
Buddy gets his finger pricked to do a blood test to see if Michael Hobbs really is his father

1 comment | Add comment
Is there a mental institution scene?
24 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
33
Yes
47
No
2
11
Anonymous
In one scene, Buddy is at a pediatric office for a DNA test.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there menstruation?
6 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Does someone have cancer?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
32
Mental Health
Does someone have a mental illness?
12 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Does someone self harm?
S.A.F.E. ALTERNATIVES® (1-800-DONTCUT)
68 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
39
Is autism misrepresented?
30 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Is a mentally ill person violent?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
19
Is there D.I.D. misrepresentation?
17 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Is there autism specific abuse?
40 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
26
4
will0w
it is implied that buddy was considering suicide as he writes a ‘note’ and is then seen saying he doesn’t belong anywhere, standing on a bridge. it’s not explicitly stated tho
1 comment | Add comment
Is reality unstable or unhinged?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Does someone have a meltdown?
7 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Is there misophonia?
31 supporters
Yes
23
No
0
8
Spaghetti and soda are slurped loudly, extremely long burps played for laughs. Buddy also eats and swallows cotton balls loudly.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
33
12
ChinaGrimes
I'm going to say yes and no. In the beginning he kind of has one when he realizes his real dad is on the naughty list. He freaks out but I can't say if its a full on anxiety attack or just normal panicking.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there ABA therapy?
17 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
12
ProfessorProcyon
He doesn't outright say that he's going to kill himself, but he does stand at the edge of a bridge while mentioning how there isn't anything left in the world for him, so I guess that could count.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there body dysphoria?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
5
Yes
38
No
3
17
Antares Harrison
Buddy realizes he's very different fron the other elves at the north pole and this causes him great distress.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
8
No
27
6
The scene of Buddy trying to shower in the elf-sized shower could make people feel claustrophobic because the space is much too small for him and he barely fits.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone have an eating disorder?
36 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
10
fs
late in the film, the title character is seen standing atop a bridge, and the film implies that he is considering jumping because of his low self-worth
3 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
12
2
ItsARockFact
Not explicitly. There are a couple of scenes involving past trauma but there are not direct depictions of PTSD.
1 comment | Add comment
Noxious
Are there underwater scenes?
8 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Are there sudden loud noises?
31 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Is there shakey cam?
38 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
30
Does a baby cry?
14 supporters
Yes
19
No
0
3
CassetteMeower
At the beginning of the movie there are several babies at an orphanage and they cry. No crying is seen after this moment.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there screaming?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
3
No
2
3
jdpamv
There are very rare uses of “damn,” “hell,” and “up yours” but nothing beyond that.
1 comment | Add comment
7
ProfessorProcyon
There are a few bright/flashing lights at times, notably Christmas lights.
1 comment | Add comment
Paranoia
Is someone watched without knowing?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
3
Is the fourth wall broken?
10 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
8
Pregnancy
Is a baby stillborn?
25 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Does someone miscarry?
21 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
32
4
The start of the movie features a baby and an orphanage
2 comments | Add comment
Is there childbirth?
19 supporters
Yes
1
No
33
2
CassetteMeower
Prior to the events of the movie, yes
1 comment | Add comment
Are there abortions?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
30
Yes
6
No
25
4
CassetteMeower
Buddy’s mom dies while giving birth prior to the events of the movie
1 comment | Add comment
Prejudice
Are there homophobic slurs?
43 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
30
26
.
Buddy mistakes a little person for an elf and insults him greatly by insisting he’s one of Santa’s elves
3 comments | Add comment
Are there usages of the n-word?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
28
Yes
0
No
27
Yes
2
No
17
4
CassetteMeower
Closest thing to this is Buddy giving his dad lingerie as a Christmas present. He was at a store and he saw a display saying “for the special someone in your life” so he thought that was a good gift for his dad who was his special someone. When his dad opens the present he’s very disturbed, a coworker comes into his office and is surprised and he immediately hides the gift.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
36
1
CassetteMeower
Nobody dies and there’s no confirmed LGBTQ characters.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there fat jokes?
53 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
34
Is there aphobia?
21 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
1
jdpamv
The only little person is portrayed as grumpy and has elf jokes made at his expense. However, Peter Dinklage is very sensitive about the issues he faces as a little person and only did the film under the condition that he wouldn’t be cast as an elf, so I doubt he felt degraded, if nothing else.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
1
CassetteMeower
Nobody dies, so no
1 comment | Add comment
Is there hate speech?
31 supporters
Yes
43
No
2
18
Antares Harrison
Buddy is unwittingly insulting to a little person, insisting that he is one of Santa's elves.
1 comment | Add comment
Race
Is there blackface?
33 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Relationships
Yes
4
No
9
5
Moomin
Will Ferrell is 13 years older that Zooey deschanel
1 comment | Add comment
Religious
Yes
1
No
5
1
SiRenfield
The movie only focuses on the secular aspects of Christmas albeit nuns show up twice (the orphanage is implied to be Catholic but it’s still not discussed)
1 comment | Add comment
Are there demons or Hell?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Sex
Yes
3
No
10
2
CassetteMeower
Buddy is seen taking a shower in a montage where he’s remembering all the signs of him not being an elf. His privates aren’t seen. Jovie is also seen taking a shower later on but only her shoulders and above are seen.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there bestiality?
79 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Does someone lose their virginity?
13 supporters
Add comment
Yes
1
No
6
Is someone sexually objectified?
42 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
11
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
80 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
36
Yes
5
No
34
10
ProfessorProcyon
There are some innuendos/adult jokes, but it's still appropriate for most ages.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there BDSM?
20 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
6
Sexism
Yes
0
No
10
Sickness
Is someone terminally ill?
18 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Does someone have a stroke?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
11
Does someone have a chronic illness?
10 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Is there dementia/Alzheimer's?
24 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
11
Social
Are there fat suits?
30 supporters
Yes
0
No
3
1
heyjackie
Possibly because there are depictions of santa
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone homeless?
5 supporters
Add comment
Yes
2
No
7
Is existentialism debated?
12 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Are there anti-abortion themes?
34 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
7
Spoiler
Yes
5
No
36
18
.
People don’t believe in Santa in the movie but he is real
4 comments | Add comment
Are there end credit scenes?
35 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
37
1
CassetteMeower
The ending is very happy and funny
1 comment | Add comment
Vehicular
Yes
13
No
1
3
A majority of the movie is set in New York City with lots of car sounds
1 comment | Add comment
Does a car crash?
19 supporters
Yes
0
No
32
8
fs
late in the film, Santa's sleigh requires an emergency/crash landing but no one is hurt
2 comments | Add comment
Does a plane crash?
11 supporters
Yes
2
No
32
10
fs
Santa's sleigh - which can fly but is not technically a plane - has an emergency crash landing late in the film
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
51
No
0
16
Antares Harrison
Buddy, not understanding traffic laws, runs out in front of a taxi and is bumped but walks away unharmed.
3 comments | Add comment
Violence
Does someone drown?
17 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
31
Is there blood/gore?
53 supporters
Yes
3
No
35
6
ProfessorProcyon
There is some fighting at times, but it's comical and nobody is seriously injured.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there a nuclear explosion?
7 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
34
Is there gun violence?
1 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
31