ELF fans are scratching their heads after failing to notice a ‘legendary Christmas movie star’ in the hit flick.
Film lovers are baffled as to how they never spotted the actor among the cast of the 2003 classic, which stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf.
Some fans have even gone as far as to say their ‘life has changed forever’ after finding out the fun festive fact.
Elf follows the story of Buddy, a human who has been raised among elves after being accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler.
Once an adult, he heads to New Jersey to find his biological father in his full elf attire.
But back in the North Pole, fans of the movie have noticed that head elf Ming Ming had previously starred in another festive film.
Twenty years before Elf hit the big screen, Peter Billingsley took on the lead role of Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story – and fans’ minds are blown.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: “I was today-years-old when I realised that Peter Billingsley (a.k.a. Ralphie from A Christmas Story) was in Elf!”
Another said: “Did anyone know that Ming Ming in Elf was played by the guy who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story?”
Others have also shared the news on TikTok, with one user asking: “How did i not notice?”
But someone else admitted: “Wait you guys didn’t know? My mum brings that up every time we watch it!”
Peter was just 12 years old when he was cast to play Ralphie in A Christmas Story.
Based in the 1940s, the 80s movie follows Ralphie as he desperately pleads with his mum and Santa for a Red Ryder air rifle.
He is repeatedly told: “You’ll shoot your eye out!”
Incredibly, Ralphie receives the bizarre gift from his ‘old man’ and accidentally smashes his glasses while trying it out in the garden.
Peter’s role in Elf is more of a cameo, compared to his leading part in A Christmas Story.
Ming Ming can be seen asking Buddy how many Etch-A-Sketches he has managed to make.
Last year, A Christmas Story was rebooted by HBO Max for a new film called A Christmas Story Christmas and Peter starred as Ralphie again.
Now a grown man, his own ‘old man’ had died and Ralphie returned to his childhood home tasked with delivering a memorable Christmas.
Speaking about his decision to reprise the role for the sequel, 52-year-old Peter said: “As an actor, being older was great.
“The idea (is) that Ralphie has grown up, has his own family and isn’t obsessed with a gift now.
“He’s really obsessed with trying to give his own kids a great Christmas. All those pieces together felt like, ‘Okay, now feels like the right time’.”
