The film commences in 1959 with Priscilla's family relocating to West Germany due to her army officer father's new posting.
A chance encounter at a local diner leads to Priscilla being invited to a party where Elvis Presley is expected to be. Despite her enthusiasm as a fan, her parents initially refuse to let her attend. However, the same individual who extended the invitation later speaks with her parents at the diner, persuading her father to change his mind.
Priscilla and her mother select a dress for the occasion, and Elvis is immediately drawn to Priscilla. He nicknames her "baby," a notable detail considering she is only in ninth grade at the time.
Their relationship progresses, and Elvis seeks her father's consent to continue seeing her. Their time together is cut short when Elvis's military service concludes, forcing him to leave Germany. He departs without maintaining contact, causing Priscilla significant heartbreak. Nevertheless, three years later, he calls her, expressing his love and inviting her to live with him at Graceland. He arranges a first-class ticket for her visit. Upon arriving, she is introduced to his inner circle, including friends, business associates, and his grandmother.
It is at Graceland that Elvis introduces her to sleeping pills, one instance leaving her unconscious for two days. Subsequently, they travel to Las Vegas, where Priscilla, despite her young age, is treated as older and engages in taking drugs with Elvis while he gambles.
Although Priscilla is reluctant to return to Germany, she eventually does, only for Elvis and his associates to convince her parents to allow her to move in with him permanently.
Upon her arrival at Graceland, the mansion feels desolate as Elvis is away in Los Angeles filming movies. When she starts school, rumors about her relationship with Elvis circulate among the students, and Priscilla finds it challenging to live with Elvis's father and stepmother, who are not as welcoming as she had hoped.
When Elvis returns, he begins to exert control over Priscilla's appearance, insisting she wear only the clothes he prefers, despite her own tastes. He also urges her to dye her hair and wear more makeup, a transformation that ultimately makes her appear older.
Priscilla barely manages to finish high school and reaches a breaking point when she reads reports of Elvis's alleged involvement with his co-star. She flies to Los Angeles to confront him, but Elvis dismisses her concerns and asserts his dominance in the relationship. This pattern of him prioritizing his needs over hers continues in other instances.
Soon after, Elvis and Priscilla become engaged, and she becomes pregnant. However, Elvis's increasing anxiety about his career leads to volatile behavior, including an incident where he throws a record at Priscilla. His growing drug dependency further strains their relationship.
Priscilla gives birth, notably applying her makeup before going to the hospital. The couple grows increasingly distant, and Priscilla eventually begins an affair with Mike Stone. In 1973, she visits Elvis in his hotel room and informs him of her decision to file for divorce.
She returns to Graceland to collect her belongings and bid farewell. As she drives away, emotionally drained, Elvis's devoted fans remain outside, cheering.
The film, characteristic of Sofia Coppola's style, masterfully employs subtle details and visual cues to convey Priscilla's isolation and despair. Cailee Spaeny's performance as Priscilla across various stages of her life is remarkable, creating a striking contrast with Jacob Elordi's portrayal of Elvis. While the film may not be a personal favorite, Coppola's artistic vision is undeniable.
