---
title: "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert"
fi1m_id: "epic-elvis-presley-in-concert"
imdb_id: "tt35003538"
tmdb_id: 1445363
wikidata_id: "Q135853698"
fi1m_score: 81
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-09-24T04:04:58.524941+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-24T04:04:58.917033+00:00"
region: "CZ"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026)

Directed by Baz Luhrmann · 1h 38m · MK U · Music, Documentary

## Identity

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** epic-elvis-presley-in-concert
- **IMDb ID:** tt35003538
- **TMDB ID:** 1445363
- **Wikidata ID:** Q135853698
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35003538/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1445363, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135853698

**Fi1m score: 81** · Critics 78 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* The archive has been cleaned up, and Elvis’s life has had a little tidying too

> Baz Luhrmann’s concert documentary is absorbing whenever Elvis Presley is singing, and the restored footage gives us plenty to enjoy. The biographical passages are too protective, but the performances make a strong case for spending the evening here.

## Synopsis

Elvis Presley appears as himself in archive footage, singing and telling his story in Baz Luhrmann’s concert documentary. James Burton and John Wilkinson also appear as themselves. Concert performances sit alongside rehearsals and other archive material, with the singer’s work in front of an audience providing the focus. He has a crowd to hold and fellow performers to respond to, including a backing singer whose playful exchange with him becomes part of the show. Biographical passages accompany the music, but the film stays chiefly with the public performer rather than following the whole of his life away from the stage.

## Review

Baz Luhrmann makes a persuasive case for spending 98 minutes watching Elvis Presley sing. *EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* is an absorbing concert film, though we would not recommend it as a way of understanding the whole life. It is interested in how a performer holds an audience and works with the people around him. That gives it plenty to show us, even if we arrive without much interest in the man.

The restored archive footage is a substantial part of the pleasure. The pictures let us attend to the singer rather than constantly notice the age of the material, and the clarity of the sound keeps the voice close. We can hear why an audience might surrender to him without needing a lecture about his importance. There is a danger with restoration of making the cleaning-up itself the attraction. Here, the performances remain more interesting than the process that has made them available to inspect.

The playful exchange with a backing singer gives the film something that an account of record releases and professional milestones could not supply. We were delighted by it, because the pleasure seems to come from having somebody there to play with. He can command attention, but he can also enjoy company, and that makes him easier to like. The film allows that small interaction to matter alongside the singing.

Jonathan Redmond’s editing puts rehearsals alongside concert performances, keeping us interested in the work as well as the applause. Moving between them also keeps the concert material from feeling like a succession of exhibits. Elliott Wheeler is credited with the music, and the musical presentation keeps the voice firmly at the centre. That is the right emphasis. The sound gives us enough detail to listen closely without losing the pleasure of a public performance.

The biographical sections are thinner, and the treatment of Tom Parker is particularly blunt. The film does not give those complicated relationships enough attention to make its judgements persuasive. Nor does it linger over the unhappiness away from the stage, a choice that preserves the buoyancy while leaving us with questions. A concert film need not tell an entire life, but once it starts explaining that life, it ought to do the job properly. Here, the explanations feel too protective of the singer.

As a concert documentary, though, it understands how much performers can communicate without someone explaining their importance. The mixture of rehearsal and performance lets us concentrate on what the singer is doing with other people, rather than merely measuring the size of his reputation. His voice and his responsiveness are enough to sustain our interest. Those are pleasures available to anyone, with no homework required before sitting down.

The caveat matters for anyone hoping for a searching portrait, and the biographical passages do occasionally interrupt the enjoyment. Even so, the singing deserves the attention the film gives it, and there is enough pleasure in watching him work to justify the evening. Choose it for the concert; leave the life story for a film more willing to ask awkward questions.

*Fi1m score 81, published 24 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert as an absorbing celebration of Elvis on stage, with nine of the eleven reviews positive. Praise centres on the restored concert footage, the immediacy of the images and sound, and the force of his singing. The reviews repeatedly single out his command of an audience and the energy captured in the assembled performances. Several suggest that the film brings the performer close enough to engage viewers beyond his established admirers.

The disagreement concerns how much scrutiny should accompany that celebration. Even favourable reviews find the documentary passages underdeveloped, the treatment of Colonel Tom Parker blunt, or the material short on discoveries for existing fans. The spread is wide, despite the strong positive majority. The Guardian offers the clearest dissent: it admires Elvis’s stage presence but argues that Luhrmann excuses and sentimentalises him, making the evasions about his history harder to accept.

## Straight answers

**Is EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert worth watching?**

*EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* is worth watching for its absorbing performances and restored archive footage, and we score it 81 out of 100. We recommend it even without an existing interest in Presley: the singing and playful exchanges carry the evening, though the protective biographical passages make it a weaker choice for understanding his life.

**How long is EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and what is it rated?**

*EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* runs 1h 38m and is rated U by the MK in Czechia. It is a music and documentary film.

**Where can I watch EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert in Czechia?**

*EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* is streaming on SkyShowtime in Czechia, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from Kč 79.00. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, and is it suitable for children?**

*EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* has a UK 12A certificate, so children under 12 need an accompanying adult at the cinema. The certificate does not make it suitable for every younger child; our review describes concerts, rehearsals and biographical passages but provides no specific violence or frightening-content details on which to base a firmer recommendation.

**How does EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert compare to Buena Vista Social Club?**

*EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert* offers a more concentrated focus on one performer than [*Buena Vista Social Club*](https://film.one/film/buena-vista-social-club), which spends time with a dozen elderly Cuban musicians. We find its musical presentation less distracting than the circling camera and restless cutting in Wenders’s film, though its biography is too protective. Choose Elvis for the individual performer, or *Buena Vista Social Club* for the ensemble’s company.

**What should I watch after EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert?**

After *EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert*, try [*Buena Vista Social Club*](https://film.one/film/buena-vista-social-club) (1999, Fi1m 76): Another chance to hear seasoned performers whose company matters as much as their songs. Then [*Summer of Soul*](https://film.one/film/summer-of-soul-or-when-the-revolution-could-not-be-televised) (2021, Fi1m 87): Restored performances with the historical context this film prefers to keep brief.

### Reviews we read (11)

- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (95/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film a transcendent, exhilarating celebration of Elvis as a performer. He especially praises the restored concert footage, whose vivid images and crystalline sound make the performances feel immediate and alive. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review-baz-luhrmann-1236477394/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (90/100, inferred): Nicholson praises the documentary as a rapturous celebration of Elvis’s live performance, though it deliberately leaves out the tragedy of his offstage life. She singles out his magnetic command of the crowd, especially his playful, hypnotic interaction with a backing singer. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-02-19/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review-las-vegas-documentary-baz-lurhmann)
- **Empire**, Barry Levitt (85/100, inferred): Levitt finds the concert experience exhilarating and otherworldly, making the film one of cinema’s most thrilling musical experiences. He praises the restored archival footage and Elvis’s onstage presence, while noting that the documentary sections feel underdeveloped. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): Gleiberman calls the film an extraordinary, exciting concert experience and a dazzling tribute to Elvis’s late-period greatness. He especially praises the newly assembled footage for capturing the power of Elvis’s voice and live performances. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review-baz-luhrmann-1236510843/)
- **Little White Lies**, Emily Maskell (4/4/4): Maskell finds the film a euphoric, distinctive celebration that brings Elvis vividly into the present. She praises the restored footage and concert-like energy, though she notes the blunt treatment of Colonel Tom Parker. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert)
- **Time Out**, Ed Gibbs (4/5): The review calls the film a joyous experience. It praises the eye-popping concert footage of Elvis at his peak. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review-2026)
- **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (75/100, inferred): Ide calls the film a boisterously enjoyable celebration that should appeal even to Elvis agnostics. She praises the meticulously restored concert footage and archival material. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-other-films-the-testament-of-ann-lee-all-you-need-is-kill-molly-vs-the-machines-and-more)
- **The Guardian**, Radheyan Simonpillai (40/100, inferred): Simonpillai finds the film an electric celebration undermined by its evasive treatment of Elvis’s history. He praises the singer’s mesmerizing stage presence but criticizes Luhrmann for excusing and sentimentalizing him. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/07/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review)
- **Collider**, Liam Gaughan (85/100, inferred): Gaughan finds the film a more effective tribute to Elvis than Luhrmann’s biopic, and an absorbing way to experience the performer. He praises the restored footage’s immediacy and the film’s vivid presentation of Elvis’s performances. [Read](https://collider.com/baz-luhrmanns-latest-film-is-a-better-tribute-to-the-king-of-rock-n-roll-than-elvis-was/)
- **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film imaginative, generous and entertaining, though not revelatory for viewers familiar with the original concert films. They praise Luhrmann’s lively mix of performances, rehearsals and archival material, especially Elvis’s compelling singing. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/epic-review-baz-luhrmann-doesnt-need-austin-butler-to-make-another-rockin-elvis-movie/)
- **NME** (60/100, inferred): The review finds the film sensational as a concert experience but superficial as a documentary. It praises the restored performance footage, especially Elvis’s commanding stage presence, while faulting the shallow treatment of complex relationships. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert-review-bazz-luhrmann-3930184)

## Details

- **Director:** Baz Luhrmann
- **Director:** Baz Luhrmann
- **Editor:** Jonathan Redmond
- **Music:** Elliott Wheeler
- **Producer:** Baz Luhrmann, Jeremy Castro, Matthew Gross
- **Cast:** Elvis Presley as Self (archive footage); James Burton as Self (archive footage); John Wilkinson as Self (archive footage); Charlie Hodge as Self (archive footage); Jerry Scheff as Self (archive footage); Glen D. Hardin as Self (archive footage); Ron Tutt as Self (archive footage); Bono as Self (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 38m
- **Certificate (MK):** U
- **Release (Czechia):** 26 February 2026
- **Genres:** Music, Documentary
- **Box office:** $23 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s_dCvUgOBI

## Where to watch in Czechia

- SkyShowtime: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent Kč 79.00, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy Kč 249.00, sd

*Checked 2026-09-24.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Stop Making Sense* (1984): For another singer whose command of an audience makes explanation largely unnecessary.
- *The Last Waltz* (1978): For the pleasure of watching musicians listen and respond to one another.
- *Buena Vista Social Club* (1999), Fi1m 76: Another chance to hear seasoned performers whose company matters as much as their songs. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/buena-vista-social-club.md)
- *Pina* (2011): For those drawn to the bodily effort and pleasure behind a performance.
- *Summer of Soul* (2021), Fi1m 87: Restored performances with the historical context this film prefers to keep brief. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/summer-of-soul-or-when-the-revolution-could-not-be-televised.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/epic-elvis-presley-in-concert