Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” Captivates Audiences with Restored Footage

Baz Luhrmann returns to the world of Elvis Presley with EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a documentary featuring long-lost footage of the iconic performer. The film, a follow-up to his 2022 biographical film Elvis, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, and began its exclusive IMAX run on February 20, 2026, before a wider theatrical release on February 27, 2026.

Unearthing Elvis’s Past

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert utilizes footage originally discovered by Luhrmann while researching his 2022 film. Sixty-eight boxes of 35mm and 8mm film were found in the Warner Bros. Film archives, located in salt mines in Kansas. This included outtakes from the documentaries Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (1970) and Elvis on Tour (1972), as well as a performance from Elvis’s 1957 appearance in Hawaii, known as the “gold jacket” performance. The footage was initially without sound, but Luhrmann’s team spent two years restoring and syncing it with existing audio sources.

A Gaze Back at Key Performances

The documentary draws heavily from two key films in Elvis’s career. Elvis: That’s the Way It Is captures the singer’s 1970 return to the stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, after a decade largely focused on film roles. This comeback was spurred by a successful television special, later known as the “Comeback Special,” which revitalized his public image after a string of unsuccessful movies. Elvis on Tour (1972) provides a glimpse into Presley’s life while touring, offering a respite from his Las Vegas residency.

Critical Reception and Availability

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert has received extremely positive reviews from critics. The film is currently available in IMAX theaters and will be released theatrically to the general public on February 27, 2026. The official soundtrack is available for purchase at ShopGraceland.com, and tickets can be purchased at epicmovie.film.

International Release Dates

The film has a staggered international release schedule, including:

• February 19, 2026: Austria
• February 20, 2026: United States
• February 26, 2026: Australia, Belgium, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (German speaking), Trinidad, Turkey, Uruguay
• March 4, 2026: France, Switzerland (French speaking)
• May 15, 2026: Japan