Will Ferrell is a happy elf.

The Eleven star recently reflected on the lasting legacy of his Christmas classic more than 20 years after its release in November 2003, saying he was grateful that the Jon Favreau-directed comedy had established itself as a staple of Christmas reruns.

“It’s really something very special,” he said Will & Harper Star and producer told People in a new interview. “I mean, it continues to grow in leaps and bounds and continues to establish itself as kind of a holiday classic for people. I’m so happy to have a film like this in my catalog.”

The comedian noted that the film “really means a lot to so many people,” adding that he has been approached by fans telling him that they would watch the film again during the off-season, around July 4th .

“That’s the great thing about what I get to do,” he continued. “You never really have an idea what’s going to land with people, and I love the fact that this film continues to resonate in a pretty incredible way.” (To borrow a line from Elevenit’s about believing, not seeing!)

Eleven follows the titular Buddy the Elf (Ferrell) as he travels to New York City in search of his biological father (played by the late James Caan) after finally learning the not-so-secret truth that he is the only human with Santa Claus is an elf-run workshop at the North Pole. The light-hearted and always quotable film stars Ed Asner, Mary Steenburgen and Bob Newhart, as well as Zooey Deschanel as Elf’s lover, with a cameo from Favreau.

The spirited film was a box office success when it premiered and failed to gain traction The Matrix Revolutions in theaters, which grossed more than $220 million on a budget of $33 million.