WNN Monday Movie Review: EPIC - Elvis Presley In Concert

After seeing EPIC, I may be an Elvis fan too.”

Rusty Wise - WNN

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Welcome to the Wise News Network Monday Movie Review, our new series where we take a closer look at the films that became box office hits over the weekend. We'll tell you what movie everyone was talking about, as well as a closer look at the storytelling aspects of the film itself (spoiler-free, of course). Afterwards, we will rate it, and you can decide whether it's worth adding to your watchlist this week.

After a one-week opening run in IMAX theaters starting February 20th, 2026, EPIC opened at most theaters this past weekend. Baz Luhrmann's EPIC, which stands for Elvis Presley in Concert, isn't a documentary; it's part of an Elvis concert(s) with behind-the-scenes never-before-seen footage. Luhrmann uncovered tapes when filming the 2022 movie Elvis, which he used for the film EPIC. Elvis himself basically narrates the movie in his own words. It gives the viewer a glimpse of the real Elvis Presley at work, both performing and practicing. Most of the concert footage is from his early 1970s Las Vegas shows, with a few more sprinkled in. One thing that stood out to me was his demanding concert schedule: he would perform twice a day, 7 days a week, at the Continental Hotel in Las Vegas during his residency there. Some accounts have him playing three times a day on special occasions. The EPIC movie itself is well put together with modern colorizations and editing. I never got to see Elvis, but seeing EPIC puts you there, gives you a sense of what it was like. There is also a sadness to EPIC, seeing his agent, Colonel Tom Parker, basically slave Elvis to Vegas and the industry. Elvis always wanted to leave the USA and go to other countries to sing. Unfortunately, Colonel Parker never let Elvis do that. Elvis was a slave to Parker and the profession he loved. The movie never mentions this aspect, but you know it's there. EPIC shows you a superstar and a glimpse into his performance life. Whether you are an Elvis fan or not, see it, and you'll know what I'm talking about. It will be hard to find another performer today with his workload or work ethic.

Owl Hoot Scale Graphic

WNN

The Hoot Rating - 4

I'm giving EPIC 4 hoots because it sent me to a stage to watch Elvis, something I never got to do. If you are an Elvis fan, I'm sure it will be 5 Hoots. After seeing EPIC, I may be an Elvis fan too.