IMAX really is the ultimate way to enjoy The King, and with ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’, director Baz Luhrmann (who helmed Austin Butler’s sensational leading turn in the movie ‘Elvis’) now turns his attention to a wonderful documentary using real, never-before-seen footage of The King unearthed during his preparations to make ‘Elvis’. With so much archived material at his disposal, Luhrmann felt he had to make a documentary to do justice to all of the incredible footage he found, which offers us a rare insight into the musical icon.
Elvis sings and tells his story like we’ve never seen him before in a new cinematic experience from the visionary filmmaker responsible for ‘Moulin Rouge' and ‘Romeo + Juliet' (which quite remarkably celebrates their milestone 25th and 30th anniversaries this year respectively). ‘EPiC' is packed full of rare candid footage of Elvis and the live concert performances themselves, which are simply sensational. This is music history happening right in front of our very eyes. You need to witness this in a cinema to get the maximum impact, whilst reliving the magic of his timeless music.
The documentary has the hallmarks of Baz Luhrmann’s gorgeous visual motifs and language, flourishing the super rare archive material and complimenting it to tell a concise and engaging story of the legend of Elvis. If anything, ‘EPiC’ is too short, and you’ll leave the cinema wanting much more – such is the power of Elvis the performer, his raw magnetism as a musical icon, and the deep quality and range of his music.
What the film really nails is its showcasing of Elvis, the man. We get to see never-before-seen interview footage where The King candidly speaks about his career, his beliefs and the way music affects his very soul. It’s a beautifully complied collection of some of the best and most personal Elvis interviews you’ll ever see. Then there’s the rapport he has with literally everyone, from band members, backing singers, the press and his adorning crowd. Elvis had charisma levels off the charts, but ‘EPiC’ really shows this up close and intimately in a way we’ve not seen before. He had time for everyone, and you can’t help but feel like he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. This is what makes ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ such a rewarding watch.
Coupled with these insightful interviews and fascinating people interactions are the live performances themselves. It’s easy to dismiss this element, mainly because we are so used to seeing how good Elvis was at his craft. But even with that firmly in mind, ‘EPiC’ is still really outstanding. Again, time is a factor here and personally I’d have loved to see much more complete songs utilised in the film, but what we do get is some absolute legendary gems, performed with heart, soul and style. ‘Burning Love’ is jaw-droppingly good, for instance, and is easily my personal high-point in an already splendid documentary packed full of memorable moments.
‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ has to be seen in the cinema, it’s a unique and revelatory experience that is the best way to grab a tiny, miniscule sense of just how incredible a performer Elvis Presley was. It’s a crying shame that he never got to perform outside of the USA, despite his desire to. There is a reason why Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll – see this film and there will be no doubt. ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ is a remarkable insight into the legend and an intimate portrait of the King never seen before.
Cast: Elvis Presley Director: Baz Luhrmann Certificate: 12A Duration: 90 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 20th February 2026
