The Top 10 Elvis Movies: A Ranked List

Though renowned for his musical legacy, less respect is given to Elvis Presley’s varied filmography. The King of modern rock made 31 feature films and two concert documentaries before he died in 1977 at age 42.

While many Elvis films haven’t stood the test of time, it would be unfair to say his cinematic career was a flop. His work spawned entire genres of imitators, setting the tone for teenage delinquent and beach party movies in equal measure. The performer turned in more than a dozen exceptional performances on screen between 1956 and 1969.

The new documentary Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley, which charts his impressive, often subversive career, is now streaming on Netflix. As the film inspires us to revisit the King’s cinematic footprint, join Entertainment Weekly as we rank Elvis’ 10 best movie performances.

10. Roustabout (1964)

A singer (Elvis) joins a traveling carnival run by Barbara Stanwyck after getting into a fight and fleeing town. His smooth voice has an immediate effect on the previously insolvent touring act, which makes a financial windfall thanks to Elvis’ presence. He begins a tentative romance with a young woman (Joan Freeman) whose fearsome father (Leif Erickson) has little affection for the brawling crooner.

One of the King’s better late-era pictures, Roustabout gets in on the then-current biker movie craze without alienating Elvis’ charm or his target audience.

Where to watch Roustabout: Pluto TV

9. Love Me Tender (1956)

Elvis made his film debut in this sweet-natured romp, proving that his on-screen singing was just as magnetic as his live performances. Soldier Vance Reno (Richard Egan) returns from staging a debonair robbery at the end of the Civil War to find that his betrothed (Debra Paget) has married his younger brother (Elvis). This sets the stage for much domestic melodrama and more than a few songs from Elvis (“Poor Boy;” the stirring but somewhat forgotten “We’re Gonna Move;” and, most notably, the title track). There’s also a fairly exciting chase thread to satisfy younger viewers.

Where to watch Love Me Tender: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

8. G.I. Blues (1960)

American soldier Tulsa McLean (Elvis) has dreams of opening up a nightclub in West Germany after the war concludes. His efforts are complicated by a love triangle with a local dancer (Juliet Prowse) and his best friend (Edson Stroll).

Notable for being one of the final “classic” Elvis song-and-dance roles before he attempted to segue into more serious acting, G.I. Blues boasts a rousing, Grammy-nominated soundtrack and a keen visual flare lacking from some of the singer’s other starring efforts.

Where to watch G.I. Blues: Pluto TV

7. Wild in the Country (1961)

Glenn Tyler (Elvis) is sentenced to probation after a brutal fight with his brother. A love triangle springs up between Glenn and his court-appointed counselor (Hope Lange) as well as a local girl (Millie Perkins) with whom he has a tentative romance.

Coming as Elvis tried to kick his career into a more serious direction, Wild in the Country presents one of the best cases that the singer could have succeeded James Dean if things had gone a bit differently. This is one of his easiest dramatic performances, with a lived-in authenticity that Elvis rarely exuded so forcefully.

Where to watch Wild in the Country: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

6. Change of Habit (1969)

Elvis’ final film is this light and breezy romp, starring as a doctor who buys a low-income medical facility and taps three (no joke) undercover nuns (Mary Tyler Moore, Barbara McNair, Jane Elliot) to help him run the place.

While not the most ambitious (but perhaps the most convoluted) of Elvis’ filmography, Change of Habit is a pleasing return to form. The film echoes the campy excesses and delightfully un-serious flourishes of his earlier work, seeing him sing, charm, and romance his castmates. It’s a lovely farewell performance from the star that goes down with his best on-screen work. Also, it’s got a pretty darn catchy theme tune…

Where to watch Change of Habit: Not available to stream.

5. Blue Hawaii (1961)

The first and best of Elvis’ Hawaiian trilogy (followed by 1962’s Girls! Girls! Girls! and 1965’s Paradise, Hawaiian Style) stars the singer as Chadwick Gates, a former G.I. who returns to his titular homeland. His high-society mother (Angela Lansbury) wants him to take charge of the family’s pineapple empire, but all Chad wants to do is surf with his pals and shed the army’s rigorous ethics.

As a piece of escapist entertainment, Blue Hawaii could not be more perfectly gauged (critics be damned). It’s musical dramedy with jaunty, memorable music and some truly staggering Hawaiian visuals… what more could you ask for? “Rock-a-Hula Baby” is a fun blast of carefree ’60s nostalgia, but it’s the iconic “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for which the soundtrack is best remembered, and for


Credit: ew.com