The King has left the building—but for 90 glorious minutes, he’s back, larger than life, and you won’t believe your eyes.
Nearly half a century after his passing, Elvis Presley remains a cultural force, an icon whose voice still echoes through generations. But nothing—and I mean nothing—could have prepared the world for Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic triumph, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.” This isn’t your typical documentary, and it’s definitely not just another concert film. It’s a full-blown resurrection, a carefully crafted experience that has critics and fans alike declaring that the King is reborn.
A Treasure Lost in the Kansas Salt Mines
The story behind the film’s creation reads like a Hollywood script itself. While working on his 2022 Oscar-nominated biopic Elvis, Luhrmann caught wind of a legendary rumor: that Warner Bros. had stored boxes of unreleased film negatives deep within the underground salt mines of central Kansas. What he and his team eventually unearthed was nothing short of astonishing.
The discovery was staggering. 65 to 69 boxes of film negatives containing a staggering 58 to 59 hours of never-before-seen footage from Elvis’s legendary 1970 Las Vegas residency and his 1972 North American tour. This footage, originally shot for MGM’s concert films Elvis: That’s the Way It Is and Elvis on Tour, had been sitting in controlled darkness for over five decades.
But the true gem, the piece that would become the backbone of the entire production, was a 30-minute audio recording. In it, Elvis speaks candidly about his life, career, and the pressures of fame. As Luhrmann explained at the Los Angeles premiere, finding this was like “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. “We found 30 minutes of him just talking about his life,” Luhrmann told ABC News. This isn’t just a documentary about Elvis; it’s a story told by Elvis.
The “Get Back” Treatment: Restoring a Legacy
The restoration process was an epic undertaking in its own right. The film, image and sound, had been archived separately. The team often didn’t even know what song Elvis was singing in the footage. Taking inspiration from Peter Jackson’s revolutionary work on The Beatles: Get Back, the restoration specialists gave the raw footage the full “Get Back” treatment, reviving it in stunning 4K clarity.
The results are breathtaking. As one user review on Plex raved, “The video looks like it was shot yesterday, not more than a half century ago”. The audio is crisp, the colors are vibrant, and the intimate details are captured with such clarity that you can almost feel the sweat and energy of a live Elvis show. “It was in its most rawest state,” said producer Jeremy Castro about the initial footage. “And after over eight and a half months in the studio, working on the edit, perfecting the craft… you’re like, this is something epic.”
A Celebration, Not a Cautionary Tale
What makes “EPiC” so unique is its focus. Luhrmann makes the deliberate choice to steer clear of the tragedy that often defines the Elvis narrative. Instead of rehashing the tragedy of his later years and his untimely death, the film throws the spotlight squarely on the stage. It is a celebration of his artistic brilliance.
The film is dominated by his legendary Las Vegas residency years (1969-1977), showcasing a man in complete command of his craft. But it also reveals the humanity behind the icon. As Luhrmann told Vogue, one of the biggest revelations was “how funny he is—how goofy”. The film captures his goofiness, his warmth, and his vulnerability as he directs his band in real-time, joking with the audience, and building a genuine connection with the room.
Critics and Fans Alike Are in Awe
The critical reception has been nothing short of spectacular. On Metacritic, the film boasts a score of 88, signifying universal acclaim, with a whopping 93% of critic reviews being positive. The audience score is even higher, sitting at an impressive 9.8 out of 10 on Plex.
Critics are using language like “giddying visual and sonic blitz” and declaring that “through this film, the King is reborn.” A review on RogerEbert.com says, “EPiC is so vivid it makes Elvis seem not like an entertainer from the past, but a figure who lives in the perpetual Right Now,” and that “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert doesn’t ask you to worship Elvis so much as to remember what it felt like when the man took control of a room and decided—joyfully, deliberately—to make it move with him”. Fans are echoing these sentiments, calling it “amazing,” “a masterpiece,” and one of the greatest music documentaries ever made.
How to Catch the “EPiC” Experience
For fans eager to catch this masterpiece, the release follows a specific rollout to maximize the spectacle:
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Exclusive IMAX Run: Running now through February 26, 2026, with a focus on premium large-format theaters like AMC.
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Wide Theatrical Release: Expands to theaters everywhere starting February 27, 2026, distributed by Neon in the US and Universal Pictures International globally.
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Home Entertainment: For those who want to own this piece of history, the film is expected to be released on DVD and digital platforms like Apple TV.
The Final Verdict: An Unmissable Cinematic Séance
“EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” is more than just a film; it’s a transcendent experience. It successfully blurs the lines between documentary and concert film, creating something that feels closer to a dreamscape—or as some critics have put it, a séance. Elvis steps forward from the past, looking and sounding better than ever, and tells his story in his own words.
Whether you’re a lifelong devotee or a new fan, “EPiC” is being hailed as one of the most important concert documents in music history. Don’t miss the chance to see the King as he truly was.
Official Trailer:
Have you seen “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let us know what you thought of this incredible resurrection of the King!