Baz Luhrmann brings Elvis back to life in EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, utilizing previously unseen footage filmed for Elvis: That’s the Way It Is and Elvis on Tour.

Think you’ve seen every angle of Elvis Presley on screen? Think again. Director Baz Luhrmann wasn’t finished with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll after his 2022 biopic, Elvis. Unearthing rare, previously unseen footage, Luhrmann spent two years remastering and restoring the material for a fresh cinematic experience. The result is a dazzling return of Elvis to the big screen, presented as never before. Using Presley’s own voice and timeless hits, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert retraces his life and legacy, blending intimate moments with iconic performances—now larger than life on IMAX.

Every screening of EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert at TIFF was presented on an IMAX screen, whether public or P&I, and honestly, that’s how the film should be seen. The only drawback? You can’t get up and dance or sing along. Trust me, I wanted to. I kept my singing to a whisper, and even with an aisle seat, I resisted the urge to pull out an air guitar. That didn’t stop me from tapping my pants or feet. The energy of the music fills the theater, and there’s nothing quite like experiencing Elvis Presley on the big screen in this immersive way.

Does EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert offer new revelations about Elvis’s life? Not exactly—but that’s not the point. I wasn’t there to learn something I didn’t already know about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. I was there purely for the musical experience, and my G‑d, it delivers. The film transforms archival footage into a living, breathing tribute, combining classic hits with rare and previously unseen performances. Peter Jackson’s influence on restoration and post-production work is evident, even though he didn’t direct. Park Road Post Production meticulously cleaned and restored 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm footage, bringing more than 59 hours of archival material to life in unprecedented clarity.

The footage in EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert comes from multiple sources. Key sequences come from six nights of Elvis’s 1970 Las Vegas residency, shot in 35mm anamorphic, alongside material from his 1972 summer tour. Together, these performances capture Elvis at the peak of his career, as well as during a period of reinvention following the 1968 Comeback Special. But EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert goes beyond just concerts: previously unheard audio of Elvis discussing his life and music is woven throughout the film, creating a dreamscape presentation.

Bringing EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert to the screen was not just a matter of cleaning film. The team also uncovered numerous 16-track audio recordings, which had to be meticulously synced to match the visuals. This involved lip-reading and assistance from Warner Bros. Everything was edited under the steady hand of Baz Luhrmann’s longtime collaborator, Jonathan Redmond. The result is a seamless fusion of image and sound, where every note, every gesture, and every glance of Elvis is amplified for the big screen.

Not only was the footage recovered but they were able to find many 16-track audio recordings. Getting everything to sync together EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert was the tricky part as that utilized lip reading and additional Elvis Presley material from Warner Bros. Luhrmann’s longtime editor Jonathan Redmond edited the footage.

Musically, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a feast. Over 70 songs appear in the film, spanning Vegas shows, tours, rehearsals, and classic recordings. What truly surprised me were the covers: Elvis takes on The Beatles’ “Yesterday” and “Something.” I had known about him weaving “Get Back” into a 1970 rehearsal of “Little Sister.” But the film also highlights his renditions of Simon & Garfunkel, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield, Bob Dylan, Three Dog Night, Brenda Lee, Edwin Hawkins, and The Righteous Brothers.

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is less about biography and more about the music, the performance, and the magic of Elvis Presley. Every restored frame, every note, every cover feels like a gift to fans old and new. It’s a celebration of the King’s artistry, captured in a way that only IMAX can fully deliver—and it’s nothing short of spectacular. If you are in a position to see this on the big screen, you will not regret it.

Some of the Songs Featured in EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

1. Also sprach Zarathustra
2. An American Trilogy
3. Don’t Be Cruel
4. Crawfish
5. Jailhouse Rock
6. Hound Dog
7. Heartbreak Hotel
8. Girls! Girls! Girls!
9. Bossa Nova Baby
10. Edge Of Reality
11. Change Of Habit
12. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
13. I Got A Feelin ’In My Body
14. Stranger In The Crowd
15. (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such As I
16. What’d I Say
17. I Was The One
18. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
19. Ghost Riders In The Sky
20. Runaway
21. Little Egypt
22. That’s All Right
23. Tiger Man
24. Polk Salad Annie
25. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
26. I Shall Be Released
27. Burning Love
28. Stranger In My Own Home Town
29. (You’re The) Devil In Disguise
30. Never Been To Spain
31. Love Me
32. Blue Moon
33. Twenty Days and Twenty Nights
34. I Can’t Stop Loving You
35. Always On My Mind
36. Oh Happy Day
37. How Great Thou Art
38. I, John
39. Nearer My God To Thee
40. Big Hunk O ’Love
41. Bridge Over Troubled Water
42. In The Ghetto
43. Walk a Mile in My Shoes
44. Suspicious Minds
45. Can’t Help Falling In Love

DIRECTOR: Baz Luhrmann
FEATURING: Elvis Presley

Sacrifice holds its world premiere during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in the Special Presentations program. Grade: 4.5/5

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