Synopsis: Elvis sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann.
Making something look easy is hard work. Many will never know the dedication and sacrifice it takes to make challenging look effortless. Sure, some may have natural talents and abilities, but to reside at the top of your craft or be heralded as one of the best, hyper-focus, countless hours of practice, and even failures must be endured. No one sees all the occasions you forfeited time with friends and put a pause on love. They don’t see the sleepless nights of trial and error and the strain on your bank account. So, next time you envy, criticize, or celebrate someone and their craft, remember they may have outworked everyone else.
“The public image of me was wrong, and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
You can’t spell pelvis without Elvis, and you’ll want to move yours as you witness the so-called King of Rock and Roll on screen like never before. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is guaranteed to have you all shook up. Whether you’ve never experienced the exhilaration and razzle-dazzle of a live Elvis show or you have seen him dozens of times, EPiC is a must-see for all Presley fans. From getting a behind-the-scenes look at how he orchestrates his shows, the shows themselves, to hearing his story from him and through his music, this concert documentary is a celebration as well as a reintroduction to who fans believe is one of the best to ever touch a microphone.
EPiC details the journey from the ‘Hound Dog’ singer’s movie career and military stint to his return to the stage. Weaving in and out of interview clips, band practice, and unseen concert footage, the film is informative, humanizing, melodically grand, and pure spectacle. Controversies aside, this deeply introspective observation details the joys and pitfalls of an incredibly public life. Whether the focus is scrutiny, difficulties, personal thoughts and feelings, or love, there is a song and performance to match the moment, further expounding on what we are meant to understand. It’s always been deeper than just music. We learn what moves him, his influence, how he organizes and quarterbacks his musical arrangements, and just how popular he actually was. This is the most comprehensive detailing of this era of his life outside of reading a book. It’s an electric event for even the most casual Elvis fan.
“Elvis ate America before America ate him.”
From a technical standpoint, EPiC is flawless. The editing pieces its narrative together perfectly. The restored audio and video are terrific and are best appreciated in IMAX; it’s sonically exceptional and truly impressive. Also, if you already didn’t have an appreciation for the stage presence of the Memphis Flash, prepare to be blown away. If this is the only type of concert you can attend this year, it will not disappoint. This harmonic voyage is emotional, exciting, resonant, and sure to leave an impression. Furthermore, you may detest parts of his personal life, but you will respect him as an artist. Its rewatchability is high.
Impact & Influence
After this experience, it’s further confirmation that the artistry of music has declined significantly. Seeing how much work and effort he put into his shows, down to the smallest detail, is impressive. Not only was it the movements and timing, but also how the music sounded. There was care in the craft and the words. Now, I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist today, but most modern music is like fast food. Hopefully, watching a legend at work will inspire upcoming artists to put the work in to be great. Because if you want to be considered a musician, you should, as the kids say, know ball.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert releases in IMAX for a one-week exclusive starting February 20, 2026, and everywhere February 27, 2026. Stay safe and stay woke.
Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 1h 36m Director: Baz Luhrmann Producers: Baz Luhrmann, Schuyler Weiss, Jeremy Castro, Matthew Gross, Colin Smeeton Executive Producers: Jonathan Redmond, Catherine Martin, Tom Mackay, Richard Story, Krista Wegener Music Mixer: Evan McHugh Re-Recording Mixer: Sam Hayward Score Consultant: Celeste Chada Music Editor: Rose Mackenzie-Peterson Re-Recording Engineer: Glenn Butler Sound Editors: Fabian Sanjurjo, Max Pashley Score: Tim Davies
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is guaranteed to have you all shook up. Whether you've never experienced the exhilaration and razzle-dazzle of a live Elvis show or you have seen him dozens of times, EPiC is a must-see for all Presley fans. From getting a behind-the-scenes look at how he orchestrates his shows, the shows themselves, to hearing his story from him and through his music, this concert documentary is a celebration as well as a reintroduction to who fans believe is one of the best to ever touch a microphone.
Senior Critic. Observing the human race since 1988.
