Bob Newhart Predicted Elf Would Be a Holiday Classic Early on: 'Will [Ferrell] Had Such Charm'

Since 2003, Elf has been a holiday mainstay due to its pure Christmas spirit and hilariously quotable lines — and above all, according to Bob Newhart, thanks to his costar Will Ferrell.
Speaking to PEOPLE, the comedy legend, 90, recalls predicting that the movie would be a smash hit the first time he laid eyes on David Berenbaum’s script.
“They sent me a script. I knew Will was doing it and I think I knew Ed Asner was in it,” Newhart says. “I read the script an