This Is Elvis
Seen it?1981 | 102 min | Drama, Music, Documentary
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Best for people who'll be humming afterwards and people who'll be looking things up afterwards. The music is woven into the story, not just laid on top. If you loved Michael Jackson's This Is It, start here. Based on real events, so expect to go down a research rabbit hole afterwards.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 42 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.
Though several actors portray Elvis Presley at different stages of his life, this documentary is comprised mostly of actual performance footage and interviews with Elvis, his fans and those close to him. This biographical docu-drama features rare footage of Elvis and dramatically recreated scenes from Elvis' life.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide on a $5 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 12K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Malcolm Leo, Andrew Solt
- Elvis PresleySelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Joe EspositoNarrator (voice)
- Linda ThompsonNarrator (voice)
- David ScottElvis - Age 18
- Paul Boensch IIIElvis - Age 10
- Dana MacKayElvis - Age 35
- Johnny HarraElvis - Age 42
- Lawrence KollerVernon Presley
- Rhonda LynPriscilla Presley
- Debbie EdgeGladys Presley