The Wasteland Reviewer

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (2026) Written Review

Did you have a newly released set of unseen Elvis Presley concert footage on the big screen on your 2026 bingo card? EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is one of the most unique and interesting documentaries coming out in 2026. When Baz Luhrmann went in to create Elvis a few years back, he discovered tons of unseen footage of Elvis’ Vegas residency and his subsequent North American tours. That is quite amazing and the fact that audiences get to be treated to this impressive footage and these incredible performances is something special. Luhrmann understands how to put on a show for sure and helped craft a bombastic and bold hybrid concert/documentary that fills up that IMAX screen. 

How does EPiC come together from a filmmaking standpoint? First off, the footage is absolutely striking. The restoration of it is quite impressive. The visuals are so crisp and gorgeous that they just pop on that incredible IMAX screen (this was 100% worth the trip to see on an IMAX screen). The sound design of this hybrid concert film is awe-inspiring. The music feels so big, bold, and rich. The way that Elvis’ vocals are mixed with the large musical accompaniments is quite dynamic. The richness of the musicianship is felt so impactfully. The unsung element that makes this film work so well is the editing. There is so much footage that is pared down to this 98-minute film we get and that is extraordinary. The fluidity between songs and intermittent footage is engaging and effective. The pace is propulsive due to this impressive editing work and produces a feeling of being on this fever dream of a tour with Elvis. Luhrmann and his team outdo themselves with such impressive craftsmanship. 

How is the actual experience watching the performances? The performances that Luhrmann highlights are incredible. You realize quite quickly a few things about Elvis as a performer. First off, he would certainly give it his all. The energy. The dancing. His general bodily engagement. There is something profound watching someone giving every ounce of themselves to their performance. The footage is so crisp and intimate that you can see every drop of sweat pouring down his face and he throws his whole body into his performances. You can see the mixture of strain and euphoria that is behind every face that Elvis makes. His stage presence is unmatched as we witness his engaging with his back up singers and the crowd. Elvis’ voice was so powerful, and you could feel the emotion and power behind every word he sang. The live twists on these songs are incredible with “Suspicious Minds” tearing the whole house down with towering intensity and energy. This is some of the greatest concert footage you are ever going to see on the big screen.

How does the film explore who Elvis was? This is not just a concert film. But those performance sequences (which make up most of the film) highlight so many specific elements of his identity. First off, there is so much joy and passion he has when he performs. But there is also a crazed mania we witness on multiple occasions which shine a light on the drug-abuse that Elvis experienced as he pushed himself to do so many performances (the statistic at the end with 1,100 performances from 1969-1977 translating to three per day at points is a terrifying and exhausting thought). You can feel the struggle and exhaustion at times creeping past his giant smiles and gyrating body. The footage is so crisp and intimate that you cannot help but feel so close to him and see him pushing through the struggle. The interlude clips as some depth and layers to who Elvis was. His interactions with his friends, fans, and fellow performers show just how charismatic and full of personality he was. You get a sense just how much he felt fulfilled by his performances. But you also see how he attempts to avoid being labeled anything or getting attached to any politics that might distract him from his success. Luhrmann can capture such a powerful render of Elvis and his presence as a performer. There are some moments that feel a little on the nose like using “Devil in Disguise” when highlighting Colonel Parker but it just fits so well in the bold presentation that Luhrmann delivers. 

Was the 50+ year wait for this footage worth it? Absolutely. Luhrmann performs some cinematic magic in bringing this footage together and delivering a towering concert experience. Elvis was a capital “E” entertainer and EPiC puts that all on display. Intimate and raw, we see deep into who Elvis is a person and a performance through this impressive footage.