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This Is Spinal Tap (re-release)
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    One of the funniest, most intelligent, most original films.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Marc Caro
    100
    Deserves an encore anyway for its invaluable contributions to the vocabulary of rock'n' roll and pop culture.
  3. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    The rock scene hasn't been the same since this hilarious 1984 comedy.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    100
    A heady flow of brilliant stupidity.
  5. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Carmel Dagan
    96
    So intensely funny that the viewer must hang on every word: comic gems spill forth almost continuously.
  6. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Andy Klein
    90
    Spinal Tap is still on the right side of the fine line between stupid and clever.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    That rare comedy that is as completely entertaining now in its re-release...as it was back then.
    All this critic's reviews
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (not credited)
    90
    A vastly amusing satire of heavy metal bands.
  9. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    90
    One of the great movie satires. And if it isn't the funniest rock spoof ever made, it certainly shares the title with "The Rutles."
  10. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    80
    The group's members come off more like real musicians than parodists.
  11. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    80
    It's no wonder young musicians say they learned to be rock stars from This Is Spinal Tap. It came to satirize and stayed -- and stays on -- to celebrate.
  12. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: David Kehr
    70
    The material is consistently clever and funny.
  13. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Jessica Winter
    50
    Begs the question: Did the lads from Squatney trail the zeitgeist at every turn, or were cobandleaders David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel simply in touch with their past and ahead of their time?
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.4 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. j30
    10
    Great movie. My favorite comedy. You owe it to yourself to watch this and laugh your ass off.
  2. rdavies
    10
    80 mins of pure orgasm. So good it hold its own genre: Rockumentary. This is so genius. So many laughs and what differentiates it from the usual slapstick comedy is that it feels real and still maintains a decent structure. It is impossible to rate this lower than 10.… Full Review »
  3. ddayusa
    10
    Brilliant parody of rock music and rock musicians. As mocking and cutting as the movie, it still manages to express show the genre some love. My favorite moment is when David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), playing and singing on stage, urges Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) with a nod of his head to come out of the wings and join him on stage. Nigel had quit the band in disgust after David's meddling wife had attached herself uninvited to the band. Nigel hesitates but then walks across the stage, straps on a guitar and plays in unison with David. It's a special moment in a special film.… Full Review »
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