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Have you seen all of Elvis' movies? If not, we've got you covered.
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MGM
By: Jael Rucker
Published Oct 9, 2023
We're already more than aware of Elvis Presley the music icon, the man who's sold over 500 million records worldwide, and has gone on to be recognized as one of the best-selling artists of all time. However, what gets lost in the sauce way too often is Presley's success as a bonafide movie star. Not very many musicians have been able to obtain the type of success Elvis achieved with his films, and as somebody who's seen every single one of them (yes every single one of them—most by way of a TCM marathon on the anniversary of his passing in 2012), I can assure you that if you haven't ever given any of his movies a chance, you're thoroughly missing out on some excellent entertainment.
Today marks 46 years since Elvis' untimely passing, and similar to how we've commemorated other music stars on their respective birthdays or anniversaries of their passing, Bob Dylan and Prince as an example, we're commemorating Elvis albeit in a slightly different way. Below is a guide to all 31 of Elvis Presley's movies in order from his first to his last. Hopefully this guide is helpful and leads you to some much enjoyed entertainment.
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How many movies did Elvis Presley make?
MGM
If you didn't already catch it, Elvis Presley churned out 31 movies during the course of his career. That's actually quite a bit in a relatively short amount of time when you think about it seeing as though his first movie was released in 1956 and his last in 1969. 31 movies in 13 years is more than what a lot of other actors were putting out during that era (and even today), and on top of that, Presley was still releasing music and performing as well. Let's check out the full list below.
1. Love Me Tender (1956)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley,Richard Egan, Debra Paget
- Elvis' role: Cliff Reno
- Notable song in the movie:"Love Me Tender"
- IMDB Rating: 6.2
Love Me Tender marks the film debut of Elvis Presley, and ironically enough his casting came by way of Paramount "loaning" him (actors used to be signed to actual studios back in the day) to 20th Century Fox as he was originally expected to be a project with Katharine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster called The Rainman. Released in 1956, the movie is about a Confederate group ordered to rob a union of its payroll funds at the end of a Civil War. Since the act came after the ending of the war, it's considered to be a crime of robbery, and the men involved take the money and run.
In the film Elvis plays Cliff Reno, the youngest of the four Reno brothers and husband to a lovely woman named Cathy (Paget). The only problem is, Cathy was previously engaged to one of the robbers involved, and has married Cliff without them knowing. Messy boots.
2. Loving You (1957)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Lizabeth Scott, and Wendell Corey
- Elvis' role: Deke Rivers
- Notable song in the movie:"Loving You"
- IMDB Rating: 6.4
With Love Me Tender underneath his belt, Elvis' next task was to get a movie with a major starring role under his belt, which he did with 1957's Loving You. Starring alongside Lizabeth Scott and Wendell Corey, Elvis played the role of a delivery driver named Deke who unexpectedly gets discovered by music execs. What follows an up and down road on the journey to success. While the movie currently isn't available on streaming, you can watch clips on YouTube.
3. Jailhouse Rock (1957)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy, Vaughn Taylor, Jennifer Holden
- Elvis' role: Vince Everett
- Notable song in the movie: "Treat Me Nice"
- IMDB Rating: 6.5
That same year Jailhouse Rock was released, and proved to be another major box office success. In it Presley portrayed Vince Everett, a man convicted of manslaughter after beating a guy to death in a bar fight while trying to defend a woman. Fourteen months later Vince gets released from prison, and upon having his talent recognized by a record company executive at the nightclub he's working at (Tyler), goes on to become a huge rockstar. Jailhouse Rock remains one of Elvis' most notable films, having been selected in 2004 for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.
4. King Creole (1958)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger, Vic Morrow
- Elvis' role: Danny Fisher
- Notable song in the movie: "King Creole"
- IMDB Rating: 7
After a successful 1957, Elvis continued building upon his momentum the following year with King Creole, where he starred as 19-year-old Danny Fisher, a teenager helping to support his family in poverty and looking for to take the next steps in his life after being denied his high school diploma thanks to a fight. It's looking like Danny is going to go the crime direction at first, but luckily he gets offered a singing gig at a club when a club owner (Paul Stewart) hears him singing. Naturally this attracts a competitor in the form of a familiar face, leaving Danny in somewhat of a jam.
5. G.I. Blues (1960)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse
- Elvis' role: Spec. 5 Tulsa McLean
- Notable song in the movie: "Wooden Heart"
- IMDB Rating: 6.2
1960's G.I. Blues was a bit of art imitating life as Elvis himself had been to the army in 1958. In fact, some of the pre-production aerial shots were taken while Elvis was stationed in Germany right before his release. The plot of the movie was relatively simple—a young man in the army (Presley) has dreams of opening up a nightclub upon his release, but isn't quite sure how he's going to come up with the funds to do so. In what winds up being an unconventional way to get money, the young soldier makes bets his friend Dynamite to win over the heart of an elite local dancer (Juliet Prowse). Long story short, Dynamite ends up being transferred, and now the soldier must win the heart of the dancer himself.
6. Flaming Star (1960)
20th Century Studios
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Eden, Steve Forest, Dolores Del Rio
- Elvis' role: Pacer Burton
- Notable song in the movie: "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
- IMDB Rating: 6.5
That same year, Elvis took it back to the Western Roots he started with Flaming Star, a movie based on the book Flaming Lance. Considered to be one of Presley's finest acting performances, the film saw him taking on the role of a mixed-race son of a white rancher(John McIntire) and a Kiowa woman (Del Rio) named Pacer Burton. When Pacer's mom dies essentially because of a group of racists prevent her from getting medical treatment, a war starts between the tribe and the racists. Flaming Star was another box office success for Presley, reaching the twelfth position on the box office charts.
7. Wild in the Country (1961)
20th Century Studios
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Hope Lange, Tuesday Weld, Millie Perkins
- Elvis' role: Glenn Tyler
- Notable song in the movie: "Lonely Man"
- IMDB Rating: 6.3
A fight is once again the beginning of a whirlwind in 1961's Wild in the Country, as Elvis portrays a troubled young southern man named Glenn Tyler who's forced to go on probation after a huge fight with his brother where he whooped his butt. Acknowledging his temper, Glenn works to get his life back on track with the help of his counselor (Lange), but instead ends up becoming the main character in a rumor mill as those in town begin to think he's romantically involved with his counselor.
8. Blue Hawaii (1961)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury, Jenny Maxwell
- Elvis' role: Chadwick Gates
- Notable song in the movie: "Rock-a-hula Baby"
- IMDB Rating: 6.1
Another fan favorite, 1961's Blue Hawaii was a fun little film that's all about partying and letting loose. The military angle was back with Elvis portraying recent Army dischargee Chadwick Gates, who wanted nothing else other than to live his best life in celebration. Things seems to be going well until his family tries to get him to work for their pineapple business, to which Chadwick declines and takes a job as tour guide at the place his girlfriend works. Hey, Chadwick was just living his best life!
9. Follow That Dream (1962)
United Artists
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Anne Helm, Joanna Moore
- Elvis' role: Toby Kwimpel
- Notable song in the movie: "What A Wonderful Life"
- IMDB Rating: 6.5
The beach was the setting again for 1962's Follow That Dream, except in a different way. Starring as Toby Kwimpel, son of Pop Kwimpel (Arthur O'Connell), Toby, his father, and their group of adopted orphans end up stranded on the side of the road in Florida. As a result they take refuge on a beach, which causes a very moody local bureaucrat (Alan Hewitt) to try and take measures to evict them. When he doesn't get his way, he decides to use manipulation tactics to ensure he gets what he wants. Follow That Dream was based on the 1959 novel Pioneer, Go Home!, and grossed close to $3 million at the box office. The movie isn't available on streaming at the moment, but hopefully it will be soon!
10. Kid Galahad (1962)
United Artists
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Charles Bronson, Lola Albright, Joan Blackman
- Elvis' role: Walter Gulick
- Notable song in the movie: "I Got Lucky"
- IMBD Rating: 6.1
Elvis as...Rocky Balboa? Kidding! Only with the Rocky part though as Presley did put on the boxing gloves for his role as Walter Gulick in 1962's Kid Galahad, which is the story about a young kid who takes up fighting after exiting the military broke and jobless. Being a sparring partner at the gym is only gig he can get, but it winds up being the gig of a lifetime as he starts training to become a professional fighter. Sure the owner of the gym (who's the one that encourages him to fight) has his own ulterior motives, but that's besides the point. This is another Elvis film that isn't on streaming but needs to be soon!
11. Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Laurel Goodwin, Stella Stevens
- Elvis' role:Ross Carpenter
- Notable song in the movie: "Return to Sender"
- IMDB Rating: 5.5
Elvis as a fisherman? That's exactly what he was for Girls! Girls! Girls!, a fisherman named Ross Carpenter who unsuccessfully tries to purchase a boat that he helped build. Since Ross really wants to be involved with this boat in some capacity, he takes a job as a boat guide for the new owner (Jeremy Slate). However, instead fighting about the boat, they end up fighting over...girls. Typical dude stuff.
12. It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Gary Lockwood, Joan O'Bryant, H.M. Wynant
- Elvis' role:Mike Edwards
- Notable song in the movie: "Cotton Candy Land"
- IMDB Rating: 6
In 1963's It Happened at the World's Fair, we get to see Elvis in pilot as mode as he portrays a gambling-addicted crop duster named Mike Edwards who loses his plane because he just can't stop gambling. So now he and his buddy Danny (Lockwood) have gotta hightail it to the Seattle World's Fair to try and get the plane back. It wouldn't be an Elvis musical without love and adventure along the way, and that's exactly what ensues as the two embark on their journey.
13. Fun in Acapulco (1963)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress
- Elvis' role:Mike Windgren
- Notable song in the movie: "Fun in Acapulco"
- IMDB Rating: 5.8
Fun in Acapulco was a fun, flirty, and sexy movie. In it, Presley starred as Mike Windgren, the new lifeguard in town who makes another lifeguard jealous because he starts getting all the attention, moving in his girl, and the whole nine yards. You know, the usual stuff that happens when the young hot guy decides to make his presence known.
14. Kissin' Cousins (1964)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Glenda Farrell, Jack Albertson, Cynthia Pepper
- Elvis' role:Josh and Jodie Tatum
- Notable song in the movie: "Tender Feeling"
- IMDB Rating: 5.2
Elvis proved he could play two roles in one movie as he simultaneously starred as cousins Josh and Jodie Tatum. Josh is a G.I. scout sent by theU.S. government to try and convince a family who owns a Tennessee mountain to lease the government so that way they can build a missile silo, and Jodie is the backwoods relative that hates his cousin just for the heck of it. How does it play out? You've gotta watch the movie for that.
15. Viva Las Vegas (1964)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Ann-Margaret, Cesare Denova, William Demarest
- Elvis' role:Lucky Jackson
- Notable song in the movie: "Viva Las Vegas"
- IMDB Rating: 6.3
Want a tour around 1960s Las Vegas? Check out Viva Las Vegas as it literally takes you around the city—you might even recognize some familiar monuments, which is super cool as you can see how they've evolved. As for the movie itself, Elvis played a musically-inclined race car driver named Lucky Jackson who loses the winnings he had planned for purchasing a new car motor at a hotel pool. Now he's got to win the money back so that way he can compete in the Grand Prix, which obviously stinks a little bit. Well, at least he finds a love interest right?
16. Roustabout (1964)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman, Raquel Welch
- Elvis' role:Charlie Rogers
- Notable song in the movie: "Poison Ivy League"
- IMDB Rating: 6
A fight is yet again the source of the main character's problem in Roustabout with Elvis playing the role of Charlie Rogers. Charlie is a singer at a coffee shop that lets a few smart-mouthed coffee boys get him riled up to the point where he kicks their butts. Unfortunately this means Charlie is fired, but luckily for him, he meets the manager of a traveling carnival (Stanwyck) and is able to get a job with them. On a different note, there's no way Elvis didn't get into at least a couple of fights in his lifetime—he was just little too good in all his fight scenes. Just sayin'.
17. Girl Happy (1965)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabres, Mary Ann Mobley, Jimmy Hawkins
- Elvis' role:Rusty Wells
- Notable song in the movie: "Do Not Disturb"
- IMDB Rating: 6.3
1965's Girl Happy brought us something a little different. Instead of Elvis' character being chaperoned, his character was the one doing the chaperoning as he's assigned by a businessman (Harold J. Stone) to keep an eye on his daughter Valerie (Fabres). Things are going well between the two until Valerie realizes he's been assigned to watch over her and rebels as a result which lands her in...jail. Fun stuff once again.
18. Tickle Me (1965)
Monogram Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Jocelyn Lane, Julie Adams
- Elvis' role:Lonnie Beale
- Notable song in the movie: "Put the Blame on Me"
- IMDB Rating: 5.8
What starts as a job hunt for an old rodeo head named Lonnie Beale (Presley) ends with him meeting a lovely lady named Vera (Adams) and a treasure hunt (yes a treasure hunt). Apparently Vera has connections to a treasure map that leads to a ghost town of riches, but Lonnie better make up with her quick if he ever wants to find it. Grossing $5 million at the box office, Tickle Me was a commercial success.
19. Harum Scarum (1965)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Mary Ann Mobley, Michael Ansara
- Elvis' role:Johnny Tyronne
- Notable song in the movie: "My Desert Serenade"
- IMDB Rating: 4.6
A delightful musical comedy set in the middle east, Harum Scarum starred Presley as Johnny Tyrone, a singer and movie star that's kidnapped by a group in the Middle East who aren't the sharpest tools in the shed so to speak. Well, at least Johnny has the help of some individuals that are willing to help him escape. Oh, and he meets a beautiful girl per usual.
20. Frankie and Johnny (1966)
United Artist
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Donna Douglas, Fred de Cordova
- Elvis' role:Johnny
- Notable song in the movie: "Beginners Luck"
- IMDB Rating: 5.5
Elvis puts the Johnny in Frankie and Johnny as he is a habitual gambler who regularly performs with his girlfriend Frankie (Douglas) on a riverboat casino stationed on the Mississippi River. Unfortunately Johnny begins to experience a series of bad luck, which gets helped by the girlfriend of their boss, but as expected, that causes some folks to develop not so great feelings. Messy boots.
21. Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Suzanna Leigh, Donna Butterworth
- Elvis' role:Rick Richards
- Notable song in the movie: "Paradise Hawaiian Style"
- IMDB Rating: 5.4
Another fun Elvis film set in Hawaii, Paradise, Hawaiian Style was about a singing pilot named Rick Richards and his friend Danny Kohana (James Shigeta) who with the help of some lovely ladies, are able to get their helicopter charter business rockin' and rollin'.
22. Spinout (1966)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelly Fabares, Deborah Walley, Diane McBain
- Elvis' role:Mike McCoy
- Notable song in the movie: "Stop Look and Listen"
- IMDB Rating: 5.7
A handsome young singer (Presley) who's also very much enjoying the bachelor life, gets caught up when three women seemingly challenge each other for the prize of winning him as a husband. Throw in the fact that he's also a race car driver and has to prepare for a major upcoming race, and this singer has his hands quite full.
23. Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
Paramount Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Dodie Marshall, Pat Priest
- Elvis' role:Ted Jackson
- Notable song in the movie: "Yoga is as Yoga Does"
- IMDB Rating: 5.2
In 1967's Easy Come, Easy Go Elvis took on the role of former US Navy frogmanTed Jackson. It just so happens that Ted stumbles upon what he believes to be a sunken ship with loads of Spanish gold, and he sets out on a mission to retrieve the fortune.
24. Double Trouble (1967)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Annette Day, John Williams
- Elvis' role:Guy Lambert
- Notable song in the movie: "Could I Fall In Love"
- IMDB Rating: 5.1
Falling for a love interest while touring Great Britain is an adventure within itself, getting caught up in jewel heist, however, is a completely different adventure in of itself. Both happened in 1967's Double Trouble, which grossed $1.6 million at the box office.
25. Clambake (1967)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Bill Bixby, Lee Kreiger
- Elvis' role:Scott Hayward
- Notable song in the movie: "Guitar Man"
- IMDB Rating: 5.6
1967's Clambake saw Presley starring as Scott Heyward, a wealthy young man who's had the benefit of a privileged upbringing. However, when Scott meets a young water skiing instructor (Will Hutchens) and switches places with him, he quickly realizes that life isn't always as luxurious as what he's experienced it to be. Well, at least he meets a pretty girl along the way. Granted the girl is looking for a rich man (which Scott himself is), but all's fair in love and war right?
26. Stay Away, Joe (1968)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Burgess Meredith, Joan Blondell, Katy Jurado
- Elvis' role:Joe Lightcloud
- Notable song in the movie: "Stay Away, Joe"
- IMDB Rating: 4.5
In 1968, Presley starred as a super successful rodeo star named Joe Lightcloud who decides to return back to his Navajo reservation in order to provide financial support through starting a cattle business. A plan is set in motion with Joe and a congressman, that involves the congressman donating a stud bull and a herd, but unfortunately Joe's dad cooks the bull and his sister sells the herd (both of which happened without Joe's permission by the way). Alas, Joe is left to clean up the mess and pick up the pieces by starting anew.
27. Speedway (1968)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra
- Elvis' role:Steve Grayson
- Notable song in the movie: "Speedway"
- IMDB Rating: 5.5
That same year, Elvis starred as stock car driver Steve Grayson in the film Speedway. Steve's manager Kenny (Bill Bixby) loses quite a bit of money while gambling on horse races, and Steve is left with the task of trying to earn enough on the races to try and keep his manager out of jail. Along the way he meets IRS agent Susan Jacks (Sinatra) and begins to fall for her. Of note: this was Nancy Sinatra's last film role.
28. Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
MGM
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Michele Carey, Don Porter
- Elvis' role:Greg Nolan
- Notable song in the movie: "A Little Less Conversation"
- IMDB Rating: 5.7
Also released in 1968 was Live a Little, Love a Little, where Elvis portrayed a struggling photographer balancing two jobs and trying to make ends meet. A very eligible bachelor, the photographer meets a girl (Carey) who's more than determined to put a change on his bachelorhood status.
29. Charro! (1969)
National General Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Victor French, Solomon Sturges
- Elvis' role:Jess Wade
- Notable song in the movie: "Charro"
- IMDB Rating: 5.6
Elvis grew a slight beard for this one, so you know it was serious business. A western film shot in Arizona, Elvis played a reformed outlaw named Jess Wade who's old gang is trying to frame him in 1969's Charro!, which also starred Victor French and Solomon Sturges, and generated $1.5 million at the box office.
30. The Trouble With Girls (1969)
National General Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Marlyn Mason, Vincent Price, Dabney Coleman
- Elvis' role:Walter Hale
- Notable song in the movie: "Swing Down Sweet Chariot"
- IMDB Rating: 5.3
Elvis and Vincent Price is a cool linkup, and cool is exactly what 1969's The Trouble With Girls was. Set in the 1920s, Elvis played Walter Hale, a small-town manager of some interesting entertainers with slight attitude problems. That's not all though, there's a very pressed individual by the name ofCharlene (Marlyn Mason) who trying to get a union together right under him. Oh, and there's a murder too. Lots of twists and turns to be on the lookout for.
31. Change of Habit (1969)
Universal Pictures
- Cast: Elvis Presley, Ed Asner, Lorena Kirk, Jane Elliot
- Elvis' role:Dr. John Carpenter
- Notable song in the movie: "Change of Habit"
- IMDB Rating:
Change of Habit—Elvis' last film. Change of Habit centered around Elvis starring as a doctor named John Carpenter working at a low income health center. Dr. Carpenter hires three women to help him out, but ends up finding out that they were actually nuns in street clothes as they were sent to the inner city in preparation for their final vows. Change of Habit was shot in Los Angeles, and released on November 10th, 1969, peaking at No. 17 on the Variety Box Office Survey. Unfortunately, the film isn't available on streaming but hopefully that changes in the future.
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