Introduction
Elvis Presley’s Family Share Emotional Reactions to the ‘Elvis’ Movie
When Baz Luhrmann’s highly anticipated biopic Elvis hit theaters, it wasn’t just fans who were watching closely—Elvis Presley’s family also sat down to relive the story of the man they knew intimately, through the lens of Hollywood.
From the beginning, the Presley family approached the film with caution. After decades of public portrayals, documentaries, and impersonations, they knew better than anyone how easy it was to misrepresent the King. But what they experienced instead was something deeply emotional, even healing.
Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’s only daughter, called the film “nothing short of spectacular.” In a heartfelt post, she wrote: “Austin Butler poured his heart and soul into this role. Watching him was like watching my father—his energy, his movement, even his pain.” She also praised Luhrmann for capturing not just Elvis’s stage presence, but the vulnerabilities that defined his private life.
Riley Keough, Elvis’s granddaughter and a talented actress in her own right, revealed that she couldn’t bring herself to watch the movie right away. “It was overwhelming,” she said. “But when I did, I cried. It reminded me not just of who Elvis was to the world, but who he was to our family—a grandfather we never got to fully know.”
Priscilla Presley, who consulted with Luhrmann during the film’s development, was equally moved. “It’s difficult to watch someone portray your life,” she admitted. “But Austin did a beautiful job. There were moments where I felt I was looking at Elvis again.”
The film has sparked a renewed interest in Elvis’s music, legacy, and personal story, particularly among younger generations. But for the Presley family, it’s more than a movie—it’s a reminder of the man behind the myth.
Despite the glitter and the fame, what they saw on screen was something rare: a genuine attempt to tell the truth about a complicated, passionate artist who changed the world—and who, to them, was simply “Dad,” “Grandpa,” and “Elvis.”