This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap

Movie spotlight

This Is Spinal Tap

1984
Movie
82 min
English

"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.

Insights

IMDb7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic91/100
Google Users94%
Director: Rob ReinerGenres: Comedy, Music

Plot Summary

This mockumentary follows the fictional British heavy metal band Spinal Tap as they embark on a disastrous tour of the United States. The film humorously chronicles their increasingly absurd misadventures, from bafflingly dimwitted band members and ego clashes to a series of escalating technical mishaps and bizarre stage performances. It satirizes the rock and roll lifestyle and the often-pretentious nature of rock documentaries.

Critical Reception

Critically acclaimed upon release and has since become a beloved cult classic. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever made and a masterful parody of rockumentaries. Its influence on subsequent comedies and mockumentaries is significant.

What Reviewers Say

  • Hilarious and brilliantly observed satire of the rock music world.

  • Features unforgettable comedic performances and quotable lines.

  • A groundbreaking mockumentary that remains timeless.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly praise 'This Is Spinal Tap' for its brilliant humor, sharp satire of rock and roll culture, and the unforgettable characters. Many highlight the film's rewatchability and its lasting impact on comedy.

Awards & Accolades

Named to numerous 'greatest comedies' lists, including the American Film Institute's '100 Years... 100 Laughs'. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song ('Spinal Tap Theme Song').

Fun Fact

The famous scene where the band gets lost backstage, trying to find their way to the stage, was inspired by a real-life incident where Ozzy Osbourne's band got lost trying to find the stage at a festival.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**Interesting, remarkable for its subgenre, credible… but I didn't find it funny.** I'm not a specific admirer of mockumentaries, but I recognize their value if they're funny. The film reports on the tour of a British rock band called Sp...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

So the legendary British rockers "Spinal Tap" are on the comeback trail. After a dry spell in the USA, they determine to take their provocative new album and their film-faking fan "Marty" (Rob Reiner) and re-establish themselves as supersta...

Ahmetaslan27

Ahmetaslan27

Am I the only one getting bored or not? It's probably because I don't like that loud noise