The legendary King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley starred in over 30 feature films during his career, movies that range from formulaic melodramas to show-stopping extravaganzas. Presley jumped headfirst into Hollywood out of a desire to be a dramatic actor, like idols Marlon Brando and James Dean. The quality of Elvis' movies varies because of his eventual disenchantment with the industry.
Elvis Presley's fame skyrocketed after he began singing with the Sun Records label in Memphis in 1954, earning his memorable popularity only two years later. Since one of Elvis' biggest aspirations was to be ed like Brando or Dean, his agent Colonel Tom Parker (recently played by Tom Hanks in Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic) wangled an audition for him in The Rainmaker. Presley didn't the screen test but signed a contract with Paramount that jumpstarted his career in Hollywood. He referred to Sinatra when he discussed why he wanted to be an actor as well as a singer. He stated in Life Magazine, "I want to become a good actor because you can't build a whole career on just singing. Look at Frank Sinatra. Until he added acting to singing, he found himself slipping downhill" (via The Guardian). Despite that, Elvis has gone down in history for his seminal music and choreography. Though critics majorly considered his movies unoriginal, Elvis' onscreen performances were acclaimed.
Critics regard Elvis Presley's early career in Hollywood as his most refined since the late 1960s showed a decline in quality. Elvis outspokenly grew tired of acting in romantic comedies since he went to Hollywood to become known as a renowned dramatic actor. His performances suffered from his disappointment with the studios producing his films. Elvis jumped into documentary filmmaking after his final feature film appearance in director William A. Graham's Change of Habit. He considered Clambake his worst film, but a couple of his other films may actually trump that musical's mediocrity. Nonetheless, here's every Elvis movie, ranked from worst to best.
31. Kissin' Cousins (1964)
Though Elvis claims Clambake is his worst film, Kissin' Cousins paints a clearer picture of the quality drop his films began to take in the mid-1960s. Directed by Gene Nelson (who branched out to direct episodes of Gilligan's Island), Kissin' Cousins centers around a plan by the U.S. government to build a missile launch facility in Tennessee's mountains. The plan is thwarted by the country folk who live there. Presley playing two characters, cousins that are foils of each other, is a surprisingly fun quirk of the film, but it suffers from an overcomplicated plot that confuses the overall cheesy tone. Critics note that the musical aspect of the film feels devastatingly out of place for an Elvis movie.
30. Stay Away, Joe (1968)
Stay Away, Joe fails to exude any meaningful message amid its mean-spirited portrayal of Native American culture. Peter Tewksbury's film revolves around Joe Lightcloud (Presley) returning to his reservation in the American Southwest with a brilliant idea to save his tribe from poverty. This entry represents the offensive nature of many problematic Old Hollywood movies due to its utilization of Red Face. This makes the film a hard watch regardless of its narrative perks. An upside to Stay Away, Joe is that it's shot on location in Arizona and shows off the state's more beautiful rural areas. Elvis' charming performance is well-regarded by critics but the movie's flat music and comedy don't help it stand out beyond that.
29. Clambake (1967)
Clambake may be Elvis' least favorite film he starred in but it isn't altogether dismissible. The story follows the heir of an oil company, Scott (Presley), and his ambition to escape his overly privileged lifestyle. When he swaps identities with a ski instructor, he falls in love with a woman in need of money. While the film captures the charm of the life-swapping formula, better seen in Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Elvis' disconnect from the film's purpose is apparent. The story is harmless and upbeat enough for the film to sail towards a proper conclusion, but the critical consensus is that Clambake is void of energy. Along with Elvis' lackluster performance, the movie blatantly overuses rear-screen projection.
28. Live A Little, Love A Little (1968)
Director Norman Taurog's musical rom-com Live a Little, Love a Little depicts the struggle of a working-class photographer named Greg (Presley) as he balances two jobs and the burgeoning love of a troubled young woman, Bernice. Though the film was critically reviewed as the epitome of mediocrity, Live a Little, Love a Little possesses sharp potential in instances where the romance doesn't drive the script. Bernice's overbearing pursuit of Greg's affections ages the movie poorly. Its debut of Elvis' infamous song "A Little Less Conversation" does elevate the film substantially, however.
27. It Happened At The World's Fair (1963)
It Happened At The World's Fair is another musical comedy starring Elvis Presley directed by Norman Taurog. After losing his plane in a gambling bet gone wrong, crop duster Mike (Presley) and his partner head off to Seattle's World Fair in hopes of changing their financial situation. Distraction awaits them as Mike helps a child find her uncle and becomes smitten with a nurse he meets. There are hints of Elvis' genuine talent for delivering dramatic performances sprinkled throughout this overelaborate web of plot points. The atmosphere and music are memorable enough but the overall movie, in the words of the 1963 New York Times review, feels like a "dismal parody of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals of old."
26. Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)
Elvis Presley's animated performance is delightful in director Michael D. Moore's Paradise, Hawaiian Style. Presley plays Rick who is a dangerously flirtatious helicopter pilot looking to kickstart a helicopter charter business with his friend. This film falls into the formulaic rut many of Presley's late 1960s films do but manages to save itself with stunning cinematography. The innovative aerial photography was superb for its time, making Parade, Hawaiian Style a visually captivating watch. The plot is hardly fleshed out, yet Elvis' suave demeanor makes up for the lacking narrative.
25. Fun In Acapulco (1963)
Elvis plays a debonair lifeguard who overcomes his fear of heights in director Richard Thorpe's Fun in Acapulco. Another of Presley's films shot on location, the scenic shots of Acapulco elevate this whimsical, yet empty musical. Despite the underdeveloped dynamics, between both Presley's love interest and antagonist, Elvis is at his most talented here. The critical response to Elvis' performance was rightfully positive, as he proves in this musical that he can execute a balance between drama, romance, and comedy perfectly. If Fun in Acapulco's rudimentary script had given him more room to develop his dramatic performance, the film could have been his gateway into more serious cinema.
24. Harum Scarum (1965)
Harum Scarum is a film that contains a more interesting background than its content. Presley plays a popular actor, Johnny Tyrone, who gets kidnapped in the Middle East because his onscreen adventurous persona is taken seriously by his captors who need someone to assassinate their king. The over-the-top plot works well for a peppy musical and, despite the film's narrative downsides, its concept assures that Harum Scarum is never boring. Presley's performance is often jarring due to Elvis' real-life confusion about the movie's tone. The film is shot on the set of the silent epic The King of Kings. It gives the film its vintage and nostalgic qualities but also obstructs the story from feeling grounded when it needs to be.
23. Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Girls! Girls! Girls! is a musical comedy filled with the mischievous and jazzy energy lacking from Elvis' later filmography. He plays a boyishly endearing sailor who finds himself caught up in a tense love triangle with two very different women. Variety's review for Girls! Girls! Girls! points out the film's main perk is that it jumps back into a "non-dramatic, purely escapist light." The major setback to this movie is that it doesn't stand out amongst Elvis' many other underdeveloped rom coms. The film greatly features one of Elvis' most beloved songs, "Return to Sender," however.
22. Tickle Me (1965)
Tickle Me finds Elvis at the rodeo playing a swashbuckling cowboy who discovers a treasure map with his love interest Pam (Jocelyn Lane). Presley excels in his returning role as Hollywood's heartthrob and creates a jovial atmosphere with his character's consistently flirtatious demeanor. A common issue amongst his late 1960s films is their mediocrity which Tickle Me, unfortunately, doesn't escape from. The plot is predictable and even Elvis' palpable chemistry with the actresses doesn't breathe life into his onscreen romances. It was not well-received critically due to its static cinematography and tacky set and costume design. That being said, Elvis' excitable persona as a rustic playboy makes the film sufficiently enjoyable.
