Elvis Presley was fondly known as a singer and actor who was conferred the title of ‘King of Rock and Roll’. As an actor, he played over 30 roles in several films beginning in 1956 with the movie Love Me Tender.
However, as he has given so much to the entertainment industry through his music and movies, he was found a worthy inspiration behind several films and documentaries. Even his controversies throughout his life gave enough inspiration for some of the movies.
In this article, we will be sampling some movies about the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. Some of these movies even made it to the box office’s highest-grossing musician biopics with the likes of Loretta Lynn‘s Coal Miners Daughter.
Best Movies About Elvis Presley
1. True Romance
This movie was released on September 10, 1993, as an American romantic crime film. The movie was written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. On IMDB, its star rank was as high as 7.9. Though it doesn’t totally feature an Elvis character, it is still regarded as one of the best Elvis Presley movies ever made.
The budget of True Romance was $12.5 million and at the box office, it made $12.6 million. Rotten Tomatoes, has a rating of 93%.
In the movie about Elvis Presley, the music legend made an apparition to the lead character Clarence of the film and convinced him to kill Drexl, the Alabama pimp.
Generally, the plot of the movie revolves around a comic-book nerd, a fanatic of Elvis Presley, and a prostitute named Alabama. The nerd and prostitutes fell in love despite her relationship with her pimp. The plot develops further to the point that the nerd kills the pimp and elopes with Alabama with a mob on their trail.
2. This Is Elvis
The American documentary was released in 1981 and was about the life of Elvis Presley. Andrew Solt and Malcolm Leo directed the movie. This Is Elvis grossed $ 2 million at the box office in the U.S and Canada and got a Gold certification of 500,000 units in the United States (RIAA).
On IMDB ranking, it scored as high as 7.5 stars and on Rotten Tomatoes, was ranked 88% on Tomatometer and 87% audience score having over 50 ratings.
Interestingly, the character of the actor and musician was portrayed by as many as 4 actors in this movie. The first actor who took on the role was Paul Boensch II who played the role of 11-year-old Elvis. When he was 18, another actor portrayed that part of his life, and this actor is David Scott. Dana Mackay was the one who played Presley at the age of 35 while Johnny Harra played the role of Elvis at the age of 42.
3. Elvis (2005)
Having a 7.2 rating on IMDB, 2005’s Elvis is one of the best Elvis Presley movies you would come across. It mirrors the life of Elvis Presley from his humble background and beginnings to fame and stardom. It is a miniseries written by Patrick Sheane Duncan and directed by James Steven Sadwith.
In 2005, the movie won 3 Satellite Awards for Best Miniseries or Television Film, Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, and Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Meyer’s portrayal of Elvis Presley.
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4. Elvis (1979)
This American biographical film was directed by John Carpenter. Kurt Russell played the part of Elvis in the movie about the life and career of the rock and roll star. It however did not conclude the last few years of his career as the movie’s plot ended in 1970.
The movie has had 4 nominations, two each for Golden Globes and Primetime Emmy Awards. It charted in the 55th position on Australia’s Kent Music Report. Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes places the biography on 65% rating with just 4 reviews on Tomatometer. Generally, this 1979 adaptation of the rock and roll legends life is one of the best movies ever made of Elvis Presley.
5. Bubba Ho –Tep
This is a comedy horror film that was written, co-produced, and directed by Don Coscarelli. The plot of the story is based on a novella by Joe. R Lansdale with the same title.
Bubba Ho – Tep was initially budgeted to be $1 million and on Box office, it grossed as much as $1.2 million. Its IMDB rating stands at 6.9 out of 10. While on Rotten Tomatoes it has a Tomatometer and Audience Score of 79%.
The plot of the film tells a story about the mysterious deaths in a quiet retirement community. Elvis who had been in a coma for a while only to wake up in the nursing home, aged, befriends Jack with whom he went on to investigate the unnatural deaths around them.
6. Elvis and Me
This biography was written by the former wife of Elvis Presley, Priscilla Ann Presley alongside Sandra Harmon. The biography shines a light on her life and the relationship between the rock star and Priscilla.
Elvis and Me was the highest-rated TV movie in 1987 and 1988. The very first part had a record-high view of 32,400,000 viewers and the second part had 31,400,000 viewers.
Rotten Tomatoes, has a rating of 95% via audience scores.
7. Finding Graceland
This movie is about an Elvis Presley impersonator who went on an adventurous ride with another man. During the ride, the driver, Gruman, revealed to his passenger the loss of his wife and other tragedies. The passenger claiming to be Elvis then becomes a source of strength and courage to him. He offered his host and driver comforting words filled with wisdom.
On IMDB, the movie was rated 6.4 out of 10, and on Rotten Tomatoes it scored 47% on Audience Score and 40% on Tomatometer.
8. 3000 Miles to Graceland
The 2001 released movie 3000 Miles to Graceland is about a robbery that happened at a casino during Elvis’ convention week. It is a heist black action comedy film that was directed, co-produced, and co-directed by Demian Lichtenstein. The Co-writer is Richard Recco.
The making of the movie was budgeted to be $62 million and it had a box office gross rate of $18.7 million. On Rotten Tomatoes it scored as low as 14% Tomatometer with 97 reviews. The audience scored the movie 46% out of 50,000 ratings.
9. Heartbreak Hotel
Written and directed by Chris Columbus, Heartbreak Hotel is an American comedy film. This story revolves around the fictional kidnapping of the rock and roll star, Elvis Presley, and his eventual release. David Keith played the role of Elvis in the movie with grossed $5.5 million in the United States and Canada despite having a budget of $13 million.
IMDB rating places the movie on 5.7 over 10 and on Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 38% on Tomatometer and 50% on audience rating.
10. Elvis Has Left the Building
2004 released Elvis Has Left the Building was a comedic story about a sales rep who killed a series of Elvis impersonators by accident. She however becomes the love interest of Miles (Corbett) who was an advertising executive.
The movie had a budget of $11.5 million and grossed $152, 547 worldwide. On Rotten Tomatoes, the 2004 movie was rated 37% in audience score. Despite its poor rating, it still makes it to the list of one of the best movies about Elvis Presley of all time.
