This 'EPiC' movie makes Elvis Presley vital once again – Review

Brian Truitt, USA TODAYWed, February 25, 2026 at 2:45 PM UTC

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Think about how many people attended Taylor Swift’s worldwide Eras Tour. That’s a fairly huge number, right? Now think about how many people still remember seeing Elvis Presley live and in person. That’s likely not a very big number at all, and one steadily decreasing as time goes on.

That’s why director Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” (★★★½ out of four; rated PG-13; in IMAX theaters now, nationwide Feb. 27) is so special and so, well, epic. This electrifying combo of documentary and concert film showcases the King of Rock 'n' Roll at his creative zenith during his 1970s Las Vegas residency and early '70s tours, and more importantly showcases Presley in all of his jumpsuited splendor, as both cultural icon and cool guy. It’s an essential watch for every music fan, even if you’re not an Elvis junkie.

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The King of Rock 'n' Roll takes the Vegas stage at the peak of his musical prowess in "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert."

And a Presley-phile I am not. The most into Elvis I’ve ever been was as a kid in the 1980s somewhat obsessed with him not actually being dead, reading books about how he was living in Hawaii or something. But watching “EPiC" you get it. You get him. You get why teenage girls went berserk when he shook his hips and why people just went mad everywhere he went for decades. You also get, in his own words, a glimpse into who Presley truly was that no other documentary or film has ever captured the same way.

“EPiC” is light years better than Luhrmann’s recent “Elvis” biopic, and it’s a minor miracle that it exists in the first place. While working on his Austin Butler-starring movie, the Australian director unearthed 59 hours of lost footage in an underground Kansas salt mine, restored it and painstakingly matched it with audio, including new Presley interview material.

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“There’s been a lot written and a lot said but never from my side of the story,” Presley says as the film moves through his early controversies and Army service, and plants him in Vegas after an unfulfilling stint in Hollywood. The Elvis we see in Sin City is arguably unmatched, with all that musical maturity plus new inspiration after making bad movies.

He boasts an infectious demeanor and confidence backstage as he readies the Vegas show set list with his band. He goofs around with fellow musicians, quipping with them about the suggestive lyrics of The Beatles’ “Something” during rehearsal, yet also has fun at the live show with his audience, playfully plopping a blue bra on his head after some random lady throws it on stage.

The karate moves, unstoppable hips and physical swagger are there, yet so is some vulnerability and humility. And the musicianship is off the charts. Obviously, there are the Elvis greatest hits – “Suspicious Minds,” “Burning Love,” “Hound Dog,” etc. – but Presley slathers his own secret sauce on those by others. It’s enlightening to see him put the Elvis spin on The Beatles’ “Get Back,” Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say" or Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” While the concert footage is jaw-dropping on the whole, the spirited renditions of “Tiger Man” and “Polk Salad Annie” are worth the price of admission alone.

1 / 0Elvis Presley archival photos: See rock 'n' roll legend's life at Graceland and beyondElvis Presley's captivating career, romances, military service and family were documented by photographers around the world. As the world prepares to mark what would have been the rock 'n' roll legend's 90th birthday on Jan. 8, 2025, take a look back at archival images of Presley's life.

“EPiC” is one of the few times, like with a Marvel or “Star Wars” movie, where it’s worth the extra bucks for an IMAX ticket or getting into your local movie theater’s sonically spiffy Dolby Atmos cinema. Usually with rock docs and their ilk, watching via streaming or waiting to see at home is fine. This is different: On the biggest, best-sounding screen possible, the movie immerses you in Elvis’ audience for a monumental music experience. If your butt’s not shaking, either because of the energetic tunes or bass lines through the subwoofers, you’re not living right.

A movie like this is going to bring in older folks, be they Elvis nerds or those who have strong nostalgia for his peers and that time in music. However, it’s the kids who can’t get enough of the Taylors, Sabrinas and Chappells who should see “EPiC” just for the cultural history lesson. It’s a fascinating, rousing snapshot of a legend in his prime, coming alive again in a way that makes him just as vital now as he was then.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Elvis movie is an 'EPiC' experience in theaters – Review

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