Nearly 60 years after Elvis Presley bid farewell to his movie star career, the King of Rock 'n' Roll is making a grand return at the box office. After the success of Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film 'Elvis' and Sofia Coppola's 2023 'Priscilla', the iconic musician has once again cracked the top 10 highest-grossing films for the third time in less than four years. Luhrmann's hybrid concert film/documentary, 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert', debuted in fifth place domestically and earned a staggering $8.5 million globally during its first weekend. The movie, screened in over 5,000 locations, has so far raked in around $14 million cumulatively, marking the third-biggest opening for a documentary of all time. This success is a testament to the enduring appeal of music-themed documentaries and concert films, even as studios focus on developing biopics of famous musicians. The film's strong debut is the latest sign that music-themed documentaries and concert films continue to be a box-office draw for both dedicated fans and regular moviegoers. 'EPiC' offers a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness Elvis at his peak, and audiences are connecting with it because of this. The movie, made entirely of never-before-seen footage, follows Presley's return to live music at his Las Vegas residency after his acting stint. The hour-and-36-minute feature, which reportedly cost around $10 million to produce, began its limited release on February 20th, opening at 325 locations. It also had a one-week run in IMAX, setting a new record for the highest-grossing week ever for a documentary in IMAX. The film's success is not just a box-office triumph but also a cultural phenomenon, with fans dancing and cheering in theaters, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience. As the movie continues to captivate audiences, Luhrmann's plans for a stage production adaptation of Presley's life add another layer of excitement to this already remarkable story.
