Elf (2003)

Most people think so. 83% of audiences gave it a thumbs up, by Google's archived audience score. Critics agree, scoring it 76%.

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. Wikipedia ↗

Elf is a 2003 American Christmas comedy directed by Jon Favreau. Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human who was raised as an elf at the North Pole after crawling into Santa's sack as a baby. When 30-year-old Buddy, who towers over his elf peers and can't keep up with toy production, learns the truth about his origins, he travels to New York City to find his biological father Walter Hobbs, played by James Caan, a cynical children's book publisher on Santa's naughty list.

Buddy's childlike enthusiasm, complete ignorance of human social norms, and absolute commitment to Christmas cheer create chaos in Walter's rigid Manhattan life while Buddy falls for Jovie, a department store elf played by Zooey Deschanel. Will Ferrell's genius was playing Buddy with total sincerity — his childlike wonder, his delight at every New York experience ("I'm in love! I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!"), and his devastating hurt when rejected were genuinely touching because Ferrell never winked at the audience.

Elf earned $220 million worldwide on a $33 million budget and immediately became a perennial Christmas classic.