Elf in Concert

About This Event

The 2003 Will Ferrell movie plays in full on the big screen while the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs the score live underneath it — the same film-with-orchestra format the CSO runs for other family titles, just with more yelling about maple syrup.

Elf wasn't expected to become what it became. It opened in November 2003 on a modest $33 million budget, directed by Jon Favreau (years before Iron Man made him a blockbuster name) and starring Will Ferrell in his first major star vehicle after leaving Saturday Night Live. It earned $232.9 million worldwide and, over the two decades since, quietly became one of the most-watched modern Christmas movies, right alongside films twice its age.

Worth knowing: showtimes vary by date across the three-day run, and tickets start at $79 — check cso.org for the specific date and time you want.