Ranking Elvis Presley's Movies

The list below includes the 31 films Elvis released between 1956-69.  Elvis' film career should have been better.  It started out pretty good with Jailhouse Rock and King Creole leading into his Army stint.  Once he got back, the first films were more hit than miss.  But after 1964's Viva Las Vegas, the rut set in more often.  Even Elvis, in the '68 TV Special and an interview in the early 70's, mentioned how the movies bogged down his whole career.  People have wondered how come Elvis didn't just walk away from his 60's film contracts.  The answer is part Col. Tom Parker, who negotiated the film contracts, and part Elvis who believed in honoring his part of the deal.

When Elvis first started making movies, he wanted to be more like his acting heroes James Dean and Marlon Brando.  But the public wasn't into Elvis' more dramatic roles.  And eventually, Elvis had to go where the money was.  So, there's blame to go all around.  It's too bad.  Because given a good script, like King Creole or Flaming Star, Elvis showed he could play a dramatic role.

I've ranked all 31 of his films below.  Leaving out two documentaries he released in his lifetime. The movies inside the Top 20 are all watchable, but 21-31 are when things really drop off.

1.  King Creole
2.  Viva Las Vegas
3.  Jailhouse Rock
4.  Kid Galahad
5.  Blue Hawaii
6.  Wild In The Country
7.  Flaming Star
8.  G.I. Blues

9.  Loving You
10. Roustabout
11. Fun In Acapulco
12. It Happened At The World's Fair

13. Change Of Habit
14. Speedway
15. Follow That Dream
16. Paradise, Hawaiian Style
17. Girl Happy
18. Girls ! Girls! Girls!
19. Spinout
20. Love Me Tender
21. Charro
22. Tickle Me
23. Clambake

24. Trouble With Girls
25. Stay Away, Joe
26. Double Trouble
27. Frankie and Johnny
28. Live a Little, Love Little
29. Easy Come, Easy Go
30. Kissin' Cousins
31. Harum Scarum