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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

This Is Spinal Tap (re-release)
MGM


9.5

based on 13 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 26 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: R

Starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner, and Harry Shearer

This classic mockumentary chronicles the final tour of the fictitious arena rock group Spinal Tap.

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Christopher Guest Michael McKean Rob Reiner Harry Shearer
DIRECTED BY:	Rob Reiner
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: September 12, 2000 Video: September 12, 2000 Theatrical: September 8, 2000
RUNNING TIME:	82 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Boston Globe Jay Carr

A heady flow of brilliant stupidity.

100

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The rock scene hasn't been the same since this hilarious 1984 comedy.

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

One of the funniest, most intelligent, most original films.

100

Chicago Tribune Marc Caro

Deserves an encore anyway for its invaluable contributions to the vocabulary of rock'n' roll and pop culture.

Mr. Showbiz Carmel Dagan

So intensely funny that the viewer must hang on every word: comic gems spill forth almost continuously.

Dallas Observer Andy Klein

Spinal Tap is still on the right side of the fine line between stupid and clever.

Variety Staff (not credited)

A vastly amusing satire of heavy metal bands.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

That rare comedy that is as completely entertaining now in its re-release...as it was back then.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

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."

Slate David Edelstein

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.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

The group's members come off more like real musicians than parodists.

Chicago Reader David Kehr

The material is consistently clever and funny.

Village Voice Jessica Winter

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?

The average user rating for this movie is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Dan S. gave it a10:
Perhaps my favorite movie of all time. As Nigel noted (if I remember it correctly), "there's a fine line between clever and stupid" and this movie is never stuipid. It's hilarious.

Colm M. gave it a10:
A classic in every sense.

Dave K. gave it a10:
Great movie! The satirical content in this is great, any big band would think this is hilarious.

William W. gave it a9:
I just picked this up on DVD. Of course, it's a great movie. But I had to wonder whether the Metacritic people realized that the Village Voice review by Jessica Winter to which they assigned a "50" is actually a joke, written as if it were a perfectly serious attempt to use the release of the DVD as the occasion to consider the band's legacy. Or are the Metacritic people just going along with the joke? With deadpan upon deadpan upon deadpan, it gets hard to tell.

Kyle M. gave it a10:
The tasteless cover is a good indication of the lack of cinematic invention within. The musical growth of this cast cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry. Great movie.

Jeff F. gave it a9:
Very funny. One drummer choked on someone elses vomit. I wish Metalica some kind of monster would have been this good.

tru g. gave it a10:
Very good. And funny.

This Is Spinal Tap (re-release) MGM

This Is Spinal Tap (re-release)
MGM