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This Is Spinal Tap

  • 19841984
  • RR
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.9/11
138K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
281
206
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, R.J. Parnell, Harry Shearer, Spinal Tap, and David Kaff in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Pictures
Play trailer1:36
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Music

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

IMDb RATING
7.9/11
138K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
281
206
  • Director
    • Rob Reiner
  • Writers
    • Christopher Guest
    • Michael McKean
    • Harry Shearer
  • Stars
    • Rob Reiner
    • Michael McKean
    • Christopher Guest
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rob Reiner
  • Writers
    • Christopher Guest
    • Michael McKean
    • Harry Shearer
  • Stars
    • Rob Reiner
    • Michael McKean
    • Christopher Guest
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 399User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    This Is Spinal Tap
    Trailer 1:36
    This Is Spinal Tap
    'This is Spinal Tap' | Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:45
    'This is Spinal Tap' | Anniversary Mashup
    The Characters of Rob Reiner: Where Are They Now?
    Video 1:44
    The Characters of Rob Reiner: Where Are They Now?

    Photos111

    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Anjelica Huston and Tony Hendra in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Spinal Tap in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
    Christopher Guest and Rob Reiner in This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rob Reiner
    Rob Reiner
    • Marty DiBergias Marty DiBergi
    Michael McKean
    Michael McKean
    • David St. Hubbinsas David St. Hubbins
    Christopher Guest
    Christopher Guest
    • Nigel Tufnelas Nigel Tufnel
    Kimberly Stringer
    • Heavy Metal Fanas Heavy Metal Fan
    Chazz Dominguez
    • Heavy Metal Fanas Heavy Metal Fan
    Shari Hall
    • Heavy Metal Fanas Heavy Metal Fan
    R.J. Parnell
    • Mick Shrimptonas Mick Shrimpton
    David Kaff
    • Viv Savageas Viv Savage
    Tony Hendra
    Tony Hendra
    • Ian Faithas Ian Faith
    Harry Shearer
    Harry Shearer
    • Derek Smallsas Derek Smalls
    Bruno Kirby
    Bruno Kirby
    • Tommy Pischeddaas Tommy Pischedda
    Jean Cromie
    • Ethereal Fanas Ethereal Fan
    Patrick Maher
    • New York M.C.as New York M.C.
    Ed Begley Jr.
    Ed Begley Jr.
    • John 'Stumpy' Pepysas John 'Stumpy' Pepys
    Danny Kortchmar
    Danny Kortchmar
    • Ronnie Puddingas Ronnie Pudding
    Fran Drescher
    Fran Drescher
    • Bobbi Flekmanas Bobbi Flekman
    Patrick Macnee
    Patrick Macnee
    • Sir Denis Eton-Hoggas Sir Denis Eton-Hogg
    • (as Patrick MacNee)
    Memo Vera
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    • Director
      • Rob Reiner
    • Writers
      • Christopher Guest
      • Michael McKean
      • Harry Shearer
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    7.9
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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1982, the legendary English heavy metal band Spinal Tap attempt an American comeback tour accompanied by a fan who is also a film-maker. The resulting documentary, interspersed with powerful performances of Tap's pivotal music and profound lyrics, candidly follows a rock group heading towards crisis, culminating in the infamous affair of the eighteen-inch-high Stonehenge stage prop. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
    • mockumentary
    • parody
    • heavy metal
    • fake documentary
    • rockumentary
    • 84 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • This ain't just rock and roll . . .
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The actors are all competent musicians and they're actually playing on the soundtrack.
    • Goofs
      While David and Nigel normally play guitar, they both play bass during Big Bottom because that's what the song requires. It's a musical joke.
    • Quotes

      Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and...

      Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten?

      Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.

      Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it's louder? Is it any louder?

      Nigel Tufnel: Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?

      Marty DiBergi: I don't know.

      Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?

      Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.

      Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

      Marty DiBergi: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

      Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

    • Crazy credits
      The credits state that the band Spinal Tap is fictional, and add "And there's no Easter Bunny, either!"
    • Alternate versions
      The movie was released in 1994 on CD-ROM by the Voyager Company, a movie distribution company specialized in converting and releasing movies on CD-ROM format. The CD-ROM edition includes the movie as well as extra features. For instance, it has two audio commentaries, one of them from the three main cast members who are not in character. This audio commentary has never been released on any other medium. The CD also includes some fun basic options such as turning the volume to 11 or typing in popular lines and phrases from the movie, which the CD then automatically locates in the movie and plays the scene with the line. The bonus material also includes music videos, ten deleted scenes, the original Spinal Tap short that was made to sell the idea of the movie to potential producers, and some notes from the crew. Another rarity is a fake trailer presented by Rob Reiner himself for "Cheese Rolling," a mockumentary about Denmark's fictional traditional cheese festival, where small villages compete in cheese throwing and similar sports activities involving cheese that can get very intense.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Greatest: 100 Most Metal Moments (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight
      Written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Rob Reiner and Harry Shearer

      Performed by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer

    User reviews399

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Deserves its fame
    Spinal Tap has been called one of the funniest movies ever made by many people over the years. I had always been familiar with it. I was very familiar with almost 70% of the scenes: the amplifier that goes to 11, the Stonehenge dance, the inability to find the way onstage in Cleveland. Plus, when it was first released on VHS, I had rented and loved Fear of a Black Hat, a mockumentary about a rap group which more or less rips off every scene of This Is Spinal Tap. After finally sitting down with This Is Spinal Tap, I am still a fan of Fear of a Black Hat (and I recommend it to anyone who hasn't heard of it), but it can not come close to touching the genius of the collective vision of Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Micheal McKean and Harry Shearer. I laughed pretty much constantly, and belly laughs, all through the film. It does kind of slow down nearer the end with the bands falling apart (i.e., the plot gets in the way of the documentary), but there was never a scene in the film that didn't have something hilarious. I have to give this film 10/10. This Is Spinal Tarp, er, um, I mean Tap is one of the funniest comedies ever made.
    helpful•104
    24
    • zetes
    • Jul 31, 2000

    FAQ3

    • Is this band real?
    • How many Spinal Tap albums are there?
    • Is there a sequel to this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
    • Filming locations
      • Six Flags Magic Mountain - 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Spinal Tap Prod.
      • Goldcrest Films International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,736,202
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,835
      • Mar 4, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,736,202
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.70 : 1

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