Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
King still captivates in rockin' unseen-footage concert doc.
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Where to Watch
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EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
EPIC: ELVIS PRESLEY IN CONCERT uses never-before-seen concert footage to create one final performance by the global superstar who dominated the music charts from the 1950s to the '70s. Through a mix of candid interviews, rehearsal footage, and behind-the-scenes moments, Elvis Presley tells his own story, revealing the man behind the myth.
Is It Any Good?
Decades after Presley first skyrocketed to fame, director Baz Luhrmann straightens Elvis' crown as the King of Rock 'n' Roll in this spectacular music documentary/concert film. In a feat of editing and sound mixing, never-before-seen footage of performances and rehearsals are seamlessly woven together, and it's beyond fantastic. It's hard not to come away with the idea that being a star really was Elvis' destiny—there was no other possible outcome. He isn't just a singer; he's an instrument, with music surging through his veins and physically expressing itself through his body. (Those gyrations once deemed "sinful," viewers come to understand, are an extension of his Pentecostal upbringing, in which the spirit often overtakes the body.)
Through interviews, Elvis shares how he got his start, who he is, and what matters to him (Mama, God, Lisa Marie), and viewers will likely feel they understand him in a way that they haven't before. He was goofy! Funny. Lonely. A warm and inclusive leader. And he possessed a charisma that's as plentiful and natural as the sweat he mops up with the towel draped around his neck. Young viewers, regardless of whether they already know anything about Elvis, may be gobsmacked. EPiC transports audiences back in time in gorgeous Technicolor, immersed in a camera quality so immaculate that We. Are. There. In 1969. In 1977. In Elvis' face. With this film, Luhrmann grants us the ability to not just look at Presley but to truly, fully, see him, the way he'd probably like to be remembered.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they knew about Elvis before seeing EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert and what they learned from watching. What are the differences between a biopic and a music/concert documentary, in which the subject talks about themselves from their own point of view? Where do you think the truth lies?
What elements of this film made you think "it was a different time"? What doesn't hold up today?
Work ethic is a strong theme: Elvis put intense hours in, performing three times a day. The filmmakers also put in years of time locating, restoring, and piecing together the elements needed to create this film. What does this say about pursuing work that you're passionate about? What interests do you have that you might spend that kind of time on?
Elvis says he doesn't smoke or drink, but there's footage of others in the Las Vegas clubs doing that. Do you think that footage glamorizes those activities? Or do you see it as a product of the times?
Elvis shares how growing up in Mississippi and Memphis influenced his love of music and his style—and how going to church gave him the opportunity to express himself through singing and realize that he had talent. What elements of your childhood have shaped your interests?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 20, 2026
- On DVD or streaming : April 7, 2026
- Cast : Elvis Presley
- Director : Baz Luhrmann
- Studio : Neon
- Genre : Musical
- Topics : Arts ( Concert )
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : smoking and some language.
- Last updated : April 23, 2026
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