The Elvis Presley documentary, 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert', has made a remarkable $14 million at the box office, marking a significant win for music movies. This achievement comes nearly 60 years after Elvis left his movie star career behind. Baz Luhrmann's 2022 'Elvis' and Sofia Coppola's 2023 'Priscilla' have reignited the King of Rock 'n' Roll's popularity, with 'EPiC' cracking the top 10 highest-grossing films for the third time in less than four years. The movie, shown in over 5,000 locations, earned $8.5 million globally during its first weekend and has since accumulated around $14 million. 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. The cinematic tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll was made entirely of never-before-seen footage, found in an underground salt mine in Kansas during the making of the 2022 biopic starring Austin Butler. The hour-and-36-minute feature, which reportedly cost about $10 million to make, began its limited release on February 20th, opening at 325 locations. It also had a one-week stint in IMAX, making it the highest-grossing week ever for a documentary in IMAX. The movie's success is attributed to its ability to offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Elvis at his peak, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. This trend is further supported by the success of other music documentaries and concert films, such as 'It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley', 'Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii', and 'Becoming Led Zeppelin', which have collectively earned millions at the box office. The popularity of music cinema is also being accelerated by artists like Taylor Swift, whose concert film 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' earned over $260 million worldwide in 2023. As the demand for music cinema continues to grow, companies like Trafalgar Releasing are expanding their slate to keep up with the trend. The future of music cinema looks bright, with more event music cinema experiences on the horizon, as Luhrmann plans to adapt Presley's life into a stage production, similar to his successful adaptation of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'.
