This Is Spinal Tap

Name: This Is Spinal Tap
Genre: Comedy, Music
Released: March 2, 1984
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Chazz Dominguez, Christopher Guest, David Kaff, Harry Shearer, Kimberly Stringer

1984

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 30 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 127 Ratings

See All

8.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.1	Your Score
8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 127 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

This Is Spinal Tap

Now Playing: This Is Spinal Tap

Movie Details & Credits

Embassy Pictures Corporation | Release Date: March 2, 1984 | R

Starring: Chazz Dominguez, Christopher Guest, David Kaff, Harry Shearer, Kimberly Stringer, Michael McKean, R.J. Parnell, Rob Reiner, Shari Hall, Tony Hendra

Summary: Spinal Tap, one of England's loudest bands, is chronicled by film director Marty DiBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.

Director: Rob Reiner

Genre(s): Comedy, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 82 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

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

100

James Berardinelli

This Is Spinal Tap is virtually guaranteed to appeal to nearly everyone. The film contains everything from laugh aloud moments to scenes that will have even the most dry, humorless viewers smiling with unrestrained mirth. Read full review

100

Jay Carr

A heady flow of brilliant stupidity. Read full review

100

Empire William Thomas

Screamingly funny. Few films, if any, can match Spinal Tap for consistent laughs. Every scene is a classic. Read full review

Janet Maslin

''It's such a fine line between stupid and . . . '' ''And clever,'' muse the band members collectively. It certainly is- and the delightful This Is Spinal Tap stays on the right side of that line. Read full review

Staff (not credited)

A vastly amusing satire of heavy metal bands. Read full review

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? Read full review

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

rdavies

Nov 1, 2010

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.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Drastre

Apr 29, 2014

One of my favorite movie ever. It's witty, funny and clever. They take what could have been a crappy movie and cranked it up to 11. It is fantastic. 11/10

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KyleM.

Jan 27, 2006

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Screenager

Apr 8, 2013

Not only does this succeed at being a satire of rock bands, it also acts as a satire of documentaries themselves. There are many scenes that are memorable and easily quotable lines. A silly, ridiculous, funny mock-rockumentary.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

WilliamW.

May 30, 2006

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Spangle

Jan 14, 2015

This Is Spinal Tap is absolutely hilarious. The problem I find with many comedies is that they are not as funny as I want them to be, but here, that is anything but the problem. From the interactions between the band members to the lyrics in their songs, the comedy never stops here andThis Is Spinal Tap is absolutely hilarious. The problem I find with many comedies is that they are not as funny as I want them to be, but here, that is anything but the problem. From the interactions between the band members to the lyrics in their songs, the comedy never stops here and really, you barely have time to recover between jokes. All of the band members, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer, are hilarious and turn in strong performances to boot. Rob Reiner is great here as well, as are Tony Hendra, June Chadwick, and then I really liked Bruno Kirby's small part as well. The fact that much of the dialogue was ad libbed makes this one even better and really helped to make it feel so natural. Spinal Tap is obviously not a real band, but it truly felt like it was at times since the interviews and interactions felt so natural and authentic. In every way imaginable, This Is Spinal Tap is a classic comedy from the 80's that is worthy of the praise it has received over the years.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Yester

Jan 25, 2020

The idea behind the movie is great and I wanted to love this movie. After watching it a few times, it falls flat everytime and it's just really boring.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS