Based on my social media feeds, the new teaser trailer for Emerald Fennell’s upcoming big-screen adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” has half of the internet feeling very hot under the collar. And it appears to be a bearded Jacob Elordi who has most people swooning.
The actor broke through with the one-two punch of Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth” movie franchise and HBO’s very raunchy “Euphoria” show, and he gained further recognition for his role in the TikTok favorite “Saltburn. But don’t worry, I’m not here to tell you to take a trip to the remote English countryside if you want an Elordi fix to keep you satisfied until “Wuthering Heights” hits theaters in February 2026. I have a different pick in mind.
Back in 2023, when everybody was talking about “Saltburn” (including, most embarrassingly, your parents), the excellent “Priscilla,” released just two months prior, slipped under the radar. This Elvis Presley biopic was also overshadowed by Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 chronicling of the rock 'n' roller's career, which starred Austin Butler as The King. But for my money, “Priscilla” is the better movie, and Elordi’s role as the legendary rockstar is certainly one of the biopic's biggest draws.
While “Priscilla” isn’t currently available on any of the best streaming services, you can purchase or rent the biopic on your preferred PVOD platform, including Amazon and Apple. And if you’re in the mood for another magnetic performance from Elordi, it’s a perfect pick.
What is 'Priscilla' about?
Directed by “The Virgin Suicides” and “Lost in Translation” filmmaker Sofia Coppola, “Priscilla” is based on the 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me” by Priscilla Presley, an actress who was married to Elvis Presley for a period of six years between 1967 and 1973.
Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) is a 14-year-old living in West Germany in the 1960s while her father is stationed at a nearby military base. She meets Elvis Presley at a house party, at a time when his star was already on a meteoric rise. There’s an instant connection between the pair, and they eventually begin a romance despite the significant age gap.
From here, the biopic explores Priscilla and Elvis’ tumultuous relationship, and how she served as a best friend and support network for the troubled star, but also how fame and ego cast a shadow over their courtship. It’s a look behind the curtain at a true American icon away from the spotlight.
'Priscilla' is a compelling portrayal of love, lust and power dynamics
While Austin Butler’s acclaimed performance as Elvis in the movie of the same name was pure showmanship, Elordi’s is a little less flashy. And while on the surface that might sound like a bad thing, it’s extremely fitting for the story Coppola (and Priscilla Presley, who serves as an executive producer) wanted to tell.
While Elordi is charismatic and certainly alluring in the role, not to mention he’s got the young Elvis look down to a tee, “Priscilla” is very much Cailee Spaney’s movie. I suspect the majority of viewers were introduced to her in last year’s “Alien: Romulus,” but those who caught “Priscilla” around release already knew what a talent she is. There’s a reason she scooped a Best Actress nomination at the Golden Globe Awards for her movie-stealing performance.
Another strength is how many facets of a complex relationship the movie tackles. We see Priscilla and Elvis’ relationship leap between tenderness and toxicity, sometimes in the same scene. There’s a clear power imbalance between the pair, but Priscilla is still presented as headstrong, capable of taking charge, which makes her an extremely intriguing figure.
“Priscilla” fared well with critics, pulling an impressive 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The review aggregate site’s ‘Critics Consensus’ reads, “With Cailee Spaeny's performance in the title role leading the way, Priscilla sees Sofia Coppola taking a tender yet clear-eyed look at the often toxic blend created by mixing first love and fame.”
While “Priscilla” may lack the shock value of a “Saltburn,” in my eyes, it’s the vastly superior movie. So, if you skipped this Jacob Elordi movie when it first released a couple of years ago, with “Wuthering Heights” on the horizon, now is the time to circle back and catch up on what you missed.
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