Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis has now been foisted on us (after what seemed like a long few years of “pick me-ass energy” before it was even in the can), and while it’s pulling decent numbers, there’s a glut of other summer box office darlings to compete with like Minions: Rise of Gru and Top Gun: Maverick in theaters now, with other big money makers like Thor: Love and Thunder coming down the pike. However, one thing that may remain with us long after Elvis burns out is an image that Austin Butler, who portrays Elvis throughout his tumultuous life in the film, has bestowed upon us that has now gone viral: “Sweaty Elvis.”
Of course, the movie includes all of the sultry lip-curling and hip-swiveling that young Elvis used to toss his adoring fans, but we also know that Elvis’ later years were an unsexy, hot mess–literally, so much sweat–and there would obviously be some scenes in the movie of this time in his life. But, Baz and Austin probably didn’t expect people to identify with it so much. via ET Canada:
The photo features Butler as later-stage Elvis, in his Vegas jumpsuit years, looking bloated and sweating profusely. The photo caused the floodgates to open and the memes to come pouring out.
The original photo’s supposed to be Austin’s portrayal of a 1977 Elvis. However, whatever feeling this is must transcend time, because people in 2022 are still feeling it and decided to snatch this up and run with it.
Me the second the temperature rises above 70 degrees pic.twitter.com/cSlUOV3Fxh
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) July 1, 2022
“I ain’t gonna lie to ya Sean this here hot sauce is killin’ me!” https://t.co/NK6cALRQ2Q pic.twitter.com/0w3WcKHgnJ
— damo (@MFDAMO) July 1, 2022
“let’s get a table outside!”
— Peter Marshall
(@peterjmarshall) July 2, 2022
(@peterjmarshall) i can’t explain it but this is is radiating vicki gunvalson energy pic.twitter.com/b2CkAxh3EW
— alex (@alex_abads) July 1, 2022
That defeated, moist visage is so unsettling, yet so relatable that it’s become a blockbuster all on its own when it comes to meme material; a perfect template to express our dismay with our summertime anxiety sweat. Harry Styles could have never given us this dewy face.
Pic: Bazmark Films