Baz Luhrmann's Elvis is putting up a fight at the box office despite a moderate opening weekend and mixed reception from critics. The new Elvis Presley biopic comes from the mind of Australian director Luhrmann, who previously showcased his flamboyant filmmaking style on adaptations like Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, and The Great Gatsby. With an original screenplay written by Luhrmann and several collaborators, Elvis chronicles the King of Rock n' Roll's rise to fame during the 1950s through his rocky relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's Austin Butler leads the cast of Elvis as the titular singer, alongside Tom Hanks, who is nearly unrecognizable as Parker. Elvis released in theaters on June 24, posting a moderate $31 million opening weekend in a near tie with the summer box office sensation, Top Gun: Maverick, which was in its fifth weekend in theaters. This is despite slightly mixed reviews for Elvis, which have criticized Luhrmann's divisive style. However, Butler's performance as Presley has been garnering nearly universal acclaim. Now, more box office numbers are in to help gauge the biopic's success.
Per Box Office Mojo, Elvis is continuing to put up a fight at the box office. Though Minions: The Rise of Gru took the top spot with an $108 opening weekend, Maverick came in second with $25 million, and Elvis right behind it in third with $19 million. This brings the total domestic gross for Luhrmann's biopic up to $67 million, though it has already passed the century mark worldwide with $113 million to date.
All in all, Elvis enjoyed a strong hold in its second weekend with only a 39 percent drop from its first. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given Elvis Presley's popularity, which endures even four decades after his death. Musical biopics have also been performing well at the box office in recent years, with 2018's Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody nearly reaching $1 billion worldwide and the Elton John-based Rocketman posting a respectable $195 million. By counter-programing standard summer blockbuster fare, which is often geared towards younger audiences, Elvis has managed to lure out large numbers of older moviegoers, a demographic that has been slow to return to theaters during the pandemic.
Elvis continuing to defy expectations at the box office in its second weekend is a strong sign for the film's awards prospects. Butler's lauded performance as Presley should position him as the frontrunner in the Best Actor race at the 2023 Oscars and other awards. The same can't be said for his co-star Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, whose performance has been criticised due to his questionable accent. The biopic's awards chances are likely contingent on the movie's overall box office success, so audiences should keep a close eye on Elvis in the coming weeks.