Elvis Made 31 Feature Films, Some Okay, Some So-So
Is Elvis Presley – with an estimated $284 million in ticket sales — the all-time “King of the Box Office” in the U.S.? Assuming the standard is income earned from movies made by a single lead actor, the answer is probably a resounding “No.”
He made a lot of movies, and they made a lot of money for both the studios and the star, but higher ticket prices in the modern era have essentially left the King of Rock and Roll in the dust regarding gross profits.
Elvis is almost unique in that he started out as a star. He has few, likely zero, “acting credits” other than being the star. He made 31 feature-length movies plus two concert films, grossing the estimated $284 million, and he starred in 17 Box Office Top 10 films between 1956 and 1965.
If not Elvis, who is the Box Office winner? According to early 2025 figures, Samuel Jackson has appeared in films that earned an estimated $5.8 billion at the domestic box office (United States and Canada). He is listed with 215 “acting credits” at the movies, far surpassing Elvis’ 31.
Others in the Top 5: Robert Downey Jr., $5.4 billion; Chris Pratt, $5.3 billion; Scarlett Johannessen, $5.3 billion; and Tom Hanks, $5.1 billion.
Which actor has appeared in the most films (box office not counted and ‘acting credits’ preferred)? Several names appear with Internet searches. Likely the most familiar, although not necessarily a household name, is Eric Roberts, brother of actress Julia Roberts, with 800-plus and counting.
Regarding Elvis movies, his best and worst films are debated. The “best” nominees include King Creole (1958), a film role supposedly written for actor James Dean, and Viva Las Vegas (1964), perhaps the most ‘Elvis’ of Elvis movies. The “worst” movie consideration is likely a longer list. Elvis himself did not care for Easy Come, Easy Go (1967), and the list goes on. His complete filmography includes 31 feature films (listed below) and two concert movies: Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (1970); and Elvis on Tour (1972).
From 1956-1969, All 31 Elvis Feature Films Listed in Order
—Love Me Tender, 1956 (See Calendar)
—Loving You, 1957
—Jailhouse Rock, 1957 (See Calendar)
—King Creole, 1958 (See Calendar)
—GI Blues, 1960
—Flaming Star, 1960
—Wild in the Country, 1961
–Blue Hawaii, 1961
—Follow that Dream, 1962
—Kid Galahad, 1962
—Girls! Girls! Girls!, 1962
—It Happened at the World’s Fair, 1963
—Fun in Acapulco, 1963
—Kissin’ Cousins, 1964 (See Calendar)
—Viva Las Vegas, 1964
—Roustabout, 1964
—Girl Happy, 1965
—Tickle Me, 1965
—Harum Scarum, 1965
—Frankie and Johnny, 1966
—Paradise, Hawaiian Style, 1966
—Spinout, 1966
—Easy Come, Easy Go, 1967
—Double Trouble, 1967
—Clambake, 1967
—Stay Away, Joe, 1968
–Speedway, 1968 (See Calendar)
—Live a Little, Love a Little, 1968
—Charro, 1969
—The Trouble with Girls, 1969
—Change of Habit, 1969 (See Calendar)