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Music comedy

This Is Spinal Tap (1984): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

This Is Spinal Tap (1984) movie poster

This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 music comedy starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Tony Hendra. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $4.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 92 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

IMDb rating
7.9/10
worldwide gross
$4.7M
Metascore
92
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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 22m (82 min)
Genres
Comedy , Music
Original language
English
Studio
Embassy Pictures Corporation
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is This Is Spinal Tap About?

The premise of This Is Spinal Tap without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

This hilarious mockumentary follows the fictional rock band Spinal Tap as they tour the U.S. promoting their new album. The film humorously explores the absurdities of the music industry, showcasing the band's struggles with equipment malfunctions, disastrous concert attendance, and interpersonal conflicts. Through interviews and performance footage, the film satirizes the excesses and egos often associated with rock and roll stardom, offering a comedic look at the life of a touring band.

This Is Spinal Tap Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • mockumentary
  • parody
  • heavy metal
  • fake documentary
  • rockumentary
  • satire
  • cult film
  • friendship
  • airport
  • concert tour
  • pseudo documentary
  • national film registry
+38 more
  • mockumentary comedy
  • profanity
  • rock band
  • rock singer
  • filmmaker
  • documentary filmmaker
  • bathtub
  • music tour
  • military officer
  • amusement park
  • rock star
  • satire comedy
  • spinal tap band
  • musician
  • guitarist
  • dating
  • album
  • party
  • scene during end credits
  • electric guitar
  • chauffeur
  • directorial debut
  • cucumber
  • cricket bat
  • rock music
  • guitar
  • mime
  • limousine
  • metal detector
  • rock concert
  • piano
  • little person
  • hotel
  • independent film
  • has been
  • written and directed by cast member
  • written by star
  • italian american
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Cast & crew

This Is Spinal Tap Cast

Michael McKean leads the cast, with Christopher Guest and Tony Hendra.

Also Starring in This Is Spinal Tap

· 6 more
Ratings

This Is Spinal Tap Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave This Is Spinal Tap 92 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.9/10.

Plot

This Is Spinal Tap Plot Summary

What happens in This Is Spinal Tap from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Neophyte director Marty DiBergi unveils a captivating “rockumentary” that takes us on a journey through the North American tour of the aging rock band Spïnal Tap. The iconic trio at the heart of the group consists of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derick Smalls, joined by keyboardist Mick Shrimpton and a series of drummers who have faced bizarre, often fatal accidents over the years—ranging from spontaneous human combustion to choking on their own vomit.

Full summary

The whole story of This Is Spinal Tap, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

This Is Spinal Tap Box Office

This Is Spinal Tap grossed $4.7 million worldwide.

1984 box office

Worldwide gross

$4.7M

US & Canada
$4.7M
Videos

This Is Spinal Tap Trailers & Videos

8 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 5 featurettes.

All 8 videos
Criterion Trailer 11: This is Spinal Tap
  • Trailer This Is Spinal Tap HD Trailer
  • Clip These Go to Eleven
  • Featurette Jack Black announces THIS IS SPINAL TAP for AFI Movie Club
  • Featurette Carl Reiner and Billy Crystal on THIS IS SPINAL TAP
Quiz

How Well Do You Know This Is Spinal Tap?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the director that documents Spinal Tap's journey?
Details

This Is Spinal Tap Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare” and “This is Spinal Tap®: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi”.

Also known as
  • Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
  • This is Spinal Tap®: A Rockumentary by Martin Di Bergi
  • Die Jungs von Spinal Tap
  • This Is Spın̈al Tap
  • 이것이 스파이널 탭이다
  • Hjelp vi er i popbransjen
  • Это «Спайнэл Тэп»
  • Это - Spinal Tap
  • Это Spinal Tap
  • Це - Spinal Tap
  • Spinal Tap - hei me rokataan!
  • 摇滚万万岁
+14 more
  • Это — Spinal Tap
  • ספיינל טאפ
  • Isto é Spinal Tap
  • Oto 'Spinal Tap'
  • Karşınızda Spinal Tap
  • A turné
  • 腰椎穿刺传奇
  • 刺脊乐队
  • Това е Спайнъл Тап
  • On the Rocks
  • Tai - Spinal Tap
  • Hjelp vi er i pop-bransjen
  • Ovo je Spinal Tap
  • Це — Spinal Tap

Seen This Is Spinal Tap?
More like this

Movies Like This Is Spinal Tap

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Spinal Tap: Back from the Dead and A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out.

FAQ

This Is Spinal Tap FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of This Is Spinal Tap, each answered in a sentence.

How long is This Is Spinal Tap?

This Is Spinal Tap runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).

When was This Is Spinal Tap released?

This Is Spinal Tap was released on March 2, 1984.

Who is in the cast of This Is Spinal Tap?

This Is Spinal Tap stars Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Tony Hendra, among 10 credited actors.

How much did This Is Spinal Tap make at the box office?

This Is Spinal Tap grossed $4.7 million worldwide.

How is This Is Spinal Tap rated?

This Is Spinal Tap has 7.9/10 on IMDb, 92 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

Does This Is Spinal Tap have a post-credit scene?

No. This Is Spinal Tap has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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