Will Ferrell Dresses Up as an Angry, Smoking Buddy the Elf in Viral Photos

The 'Elf' star gave hockey fans a grumpy look at Sunday's game.

Buddy the Elf has experienced hardship.

With a slight twist, Will Ferrell appeared at an NHL game dressed as his favourite character from the 2003 family comedy Elf.

Ferrell went to the L.A. Kings vs. Philadelphia Flyers game on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The 57-year-old, costumed as the always upbeat Buddy but with two-day stubble, was glowering at the camera, smoking a "cigarette," and drinking beer.

Ferrell famously declined to reprise the part in a follow-up to the movie, but he gave fans this free taste of nostalgia. The actor told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 that he declined an entirely written "rehash" sequel that would have paid him $29 million to reprise his role as Buddy.

I would have had to honestly market the film by saying things like, 'Oh no, it's not good.'..." "I simply couldn't refuse that amount of money," he remarked. "Am I able to say those words?" I wondered myself.  I can't do the movie because I don't think I can.

In the original 2003 comedy, directed by Jon Favreau, Ferrell played a human who was raised among elves at the North Pole and went to New York to meet his biological father. This led to a lot of fish-out-of-water shenanigans. Ferrell recalled thinking, "Boy, this could be the end," as he ran around New York while wearing yellow tights while filming the movie.

In THR's first review, our critic stated that "Elf is at the very least a breezily entertaining, perfectly cast family treat," even though the term "instant holiday classic" might be pushing it. 

After earning $220 million at the box office, the movie has become a Christmas classic frequently re-watched over the holiday season.