This Is Spinal Tap

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1:26

This Is Spinal Tap

R

1984

1h 22m

Comedy

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

180 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

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Critics Consensus

Smartly directed, brilliantly acted, and packed with endlessly quotable moments, This Is Spinal Tap is an all-time comedy classic.

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Milford Reid

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Aug 5

5/5

Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer give superb performances. It's a must-see.

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E Jane Dickinson

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 16

Performances are pushed to the edge of caricature but remain horribly believable.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Sep 15

An instant cult classic, Rob Reiner’s 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap laid the groundwork for the modern improv comedy with its laser-precise skewering of the heyday of ’80s heavy metal and the vagaries of making it as a touring act.

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

4d

Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap endures because he takes a group of insufferable people and makes us feel for them.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 10

3.5/4

It now stands as one of the premier cult movies of all time, an honor no one saw coming back in ’84.

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Phil Kloer

Florida Times-Union

Jan 21

3.5/4

A hilarious spoof of heavy-metal music that has "cult classic" written all over it.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 3

has some funny lines... like about the leaving of the drummer. he vanished in a 'poof' it is amusing. worth watching

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Spencer P

@s_plewe Jul 30

Being Rob Reiner's low-budget first movie, This is Spinal Tap moves subtly and swiftly from joke to joke without effort, satirizing the rock band and rock tour experience to surprisingly profound effect.

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Goose R.

@rodrigug May 18

Mockumentary of a rockumentary. Supposed to be a cult classic. I tried watching it years ago but didn’t like it. With the sequel out, I tried it again but nope. It does have some funny parts but not enough to finish watching it 🍿/5 on HBO

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom May 17

This Is Spinal Tap is, in my opinion, the gold standard of the mockumentary genre. It perfectly blends comedy and realism in a way that feels effortless, making it one of the most influential and entertaining films of its kind. What really makes the film stand out is how believable everything feels, even while it’s clearly satirical. The humour is smart, dry, and often subtle, which makes the absurd moments hit even harder without needing over-the-top jokes. The cast is another major highlight. Everyone fully commits to their roles, playing everything completely straight, which is exactly why it works so well. The chemistry between the band members makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. Overall, This Is Spinal Tap is a brilliantly crafted comedy that never gets old and still feels fresh on repeat viewings. It’s easily one of the best mockumentaries ever made, and I rate it a 10/10.

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Jordan S.

@jswez May 9

Surprisingly funny over 40 years later. I’m always hesitant of older movies that I didn’t grow up on because you never know if they’ll hold up sans nostalgia, but this mockumentary lives up to the hype.

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Ry N

@RyGuy Apr 17

A mockumentary about a British band named Spinal Tap touring North America. The comedy is good at times but it's pretty dry otherwise.

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Rob Reiner

Director

Rob Reiner

Marty DiBergi

Michael McKean

David St. Hubbins (Lead Guitar, Vocals)

Christopher Guest

Nigel Tufnel (Lead Guitar, vocals)

Harry Shearer

Derek Smalls (Bass, vocals)

R.J. Parnell

Mick Shrimpton (Drummer)

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Synopsis

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Karen Murphy
Screenwriter: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer
Distributor: MGM
Production Co: Spinal Tap Prod.
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 1984, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 5, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $188.8K
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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