One of the best things about the festive season is the cozy nights spent inside with hot chocolate and a Christmas movie. If you’ve been searching for Jon Favreau’s 2003 Christmas classic starring Will Ferrell but haven’t been able to track it down, this guide explains how and where to watch Elf from anywhere.
Key Takeaways:
- You can stream Elf on HBO Max (which is available in the U.S. and several other countries), Spectrum TV, truTV and TNT in the U.S. The movie is also available on other streaming platforms worldwide.
- If you don’t mind paying for Elf, you can rent it for a few dollars on Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play and other buy/rental sites.
- To stream Elf on HBO Max or another streaming service while traveling, you can connect to a VPN to change your IP address. ExpressVPN is our top VPN recommendation.
In Elf, Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a man who was accidentally taken to the North Pole as a baby and raised as one of Santa’s elves. When he learns the truth about his origins as an adult, he heads for New York City in the hopes of tracking down his biological father.
Elf is available on a variety of streaming platforms around the world, both subscription services and buy/rental services. Without further ado, let’s get into where Elf is available to stream, buy or rent, and how to watch it while traveling with a quality virtual private network (VPN) like ExpressVPN.
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Unfortunately, we couldn’t find Elf in any of the Netflix libraries we checked out.
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No, but it is on HBO Max and a variety of other streaming services.
Unfortunately, we couldnu2019t find Elf in any of the Netflix libraries we checked out.n”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is Elf on Disney Plus?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
No, but it is on HBO Max and a variety of other streaming services.n”}}]}]]>
Where to Watch Elf: Will Ferrell 2003
Elf is on HBO Max, a streaming service available in the U.S. and U.S. territories, as well as select countries in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. If you’ll be traveling this Christmas to a country where HBO Max is unavailable due to geoblocking, but would still like to access your account, we’ll show you how to do it with a VPN further down.
In addition to HBO Max, you can stream, buy or rent Elf on other platforms. Here is a rundown of the platforms and where these platforms are available.
| Stream with Subscription | Buy or Rent |
|---|---|
| HBO Max (various locations) | Amazon Prime Video |
| Spectrum TV (U.S. — must be a Spectrum customer) | Spectrum TV (U.S.) |
| truTV (U.S. — cable subscription required) | iTunes |
| TNT (U.S. — cable subscription required) | Google Play |
| Now TV (U.K.) | Vudu (U.S.) |
| Sky Go (U.K. — Sky TV package required) | ROW8 (U.S.) |
| Crave (Canada) | YouTube Movies & TV |
| BINGE (Australia) | |
| Stan (Australia) | |
| Amazon Prime Video (Canada — free with STARZ trial) | |
| Amazon Prime Video (Australia — free with Paramount Plus trial) |
Where Can I Watch Elf: Free Ways?
Though Elf isn’t available on any free streaming sites, you can take advantage of streaming services’ free trials. Below are services that offer free trials.
You’ll probably need to use a payment method linked to the country the service is available in to sign up for these free trials. For example, if you want to sign up for Amazon Prime Video Canada with a STARZ trial, you’ll need a Canadian payment method.
- Amazon Prime Video Canada with STARZ trial
- Amazon Prime Video Australia with Paramount Plus trial
- Crave (Canada)
- Paramount Plus (Australia)
- Stan (Australia)
- BINGE (Australia)
How to Watch Elf With a VPN
If you’re traveling and want to access your HBO Max account or other regular streaming service accounts, you’ll need a VPN to make it happen. We recommend ExpressVPN as the best VPN for streaming, but we’ll also share some alternatives further down.
- Get ExpressVPN
Go to ExpressVPN’s website and sign up for a plan. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Download ExpressVPN
Click “download VPN” and select the ExpressVPN app for your device. Click “download app” on the next page and then click “download.”
- Connect to a U.S. Server
Open the ExpressVPN app and connect to a U.S. server (or any server in a country where HBO Max or the desired streaming service is available).
- Log in to HBO Max
Log in to HBO Max, search for Elf and start streaming.
The 3 Best VPNs for Watching Elf
If you’re on the hunt for an excellent streaming VPN, you might want to include one of these providers in your letter to Santa this Christmas.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN combines top-notch security, speed and consistency, all of which are crucial for a smooth streaming experience.
Pros:
- Unlocks streaming services
- Easy to use
- Flawless security
We recommend ExpressVPN for a consistently smooth streaming experience. This veteran VPN service gets around geoblocks in seconds on major streaming services like HBO Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It’s also really easy to use, even if you’re a complete beginner, which is why it tops our best VPN for beginners recommendations.
The only downside to ExpressVPN is that it doesn’t come cheap, especially on its monthly plan. That said, its one-year plan, while still pricey, will save you a lot of money. You can try this unfailingly secure VPN provider out for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee. To find out more, check out our ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN Plans
2. NordVPN
NordVPN’s excellent speeds make streaming a buffer-free experience.
Pros:
- Excellent speeds
- Intuitive desktop interface
- Affordable two-year plan
Cons:
- Awkward mobile interface
NordVPN sits in the top spot on our fastest VPN roundup thanks to its excellent global speeds and all-around consistency. A VPN as fast as NordVPN is perfect for streaming because it greatly increases your chances of being able to enjoy your movie in peace, free of buffering.
Other things NordVPN has going for it is its security, affordable two-year plan and intuitive desktop interface. The only reason NordVPN is in second place, behind ExpressVPN, is that the world map interface is a bit harder to navigate on a mobile device.
To find out more about NordVPN, check out our NordVPN review. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
3. Proton VPN
Proton VPN offers a free plan with no data limits.
Pros:
- Free plan with unlimited data
- Unblocks streaming services
- Decent speeds
Cons:
- Only three free locations
If you’re looking for a secure free VPN to stream Elf, you might want to give Proton VPN a try. Proton VPN has both paid and free plan options. The free plan gives you access to three locations: Japan, the Netherlands and the U.S. This makes it a perfect option for those traveling outside the U.S. who want to stream Elf on HBO Max with a completely free VPN.
There are also no data limits on the free plan, which means you can stream as much as you want on the three free locations. That being said, the limited free locations might be frustrating, especially if you want to stream on a number of worldwide services.
You can always upgrade to the paid plan, though, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you change your mind. Find out more in our Proton VPN review.
Final Thoughts: Watch Elf Christmas Movie
To recap, Elf is available on HBO Max and a number of other streaming platforms and buy/rental services in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K. If you’re planning to travel this Christmas, we hope you’ve found our VPN how-to guide useful and that you enjoy your Elf streaming session.
Do you use a VPN to connect to streaming services while traveling? If so, which one do you use and why? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading!
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