Rent This is Spinal Tap (1984)
4.0 of 5 from 315 ratings
1h 20min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
You're about to get personal with one of music history's greatest - and loudest - heavy metal bands...Spinal Tap! Whether or not you're a die-hard fan of the group, you'll love this a detailed "rockumentary" of England's legendary Spinal Tap. Acclaimed commercial director Marty DiBergi takes you behind-the-scenes for an intimate look at a band whose time has come...andgone...and come again...and...Through interviews, rare footage and lots of music - including classic Tap tunes like "Big Bottom" and "Hell Hole" - you'll get acquainted with David St. Hubbins (lead guitar), Nigel Tufnel (lead guitar), Derek Smalls (lead bass) and every drummer who ever lived - and died - for this renowned rock band. Be a part of the sights, sounds and smells of this celebrated heavy metal phenomenon. It's an experience you'll never forget. - Actors:
- Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Kimberly Stringer, Chazz Dominguez, Shari Hall, R.J. Parnell, David Kaff, Tony Hendra, Harry Shearer, Bruno Kirby, Jean Cromie, Patrick Maher, Ed Begley Jr., Danny Kortchmar, Fran Drescher, Patrick MacNee, Memo Vera, Julie Payne, Dana Carvey
- Directors:
- Rob Reiner
- Producers:
- Karen Murphy
- Writers:
- Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner
- Studio:
- Optimum
- Genres:
- Comedy, Documentary, Music & Musicals, Special Interest
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch Next If You Liked This Is Spinal Tap, A History of Cricket Films, Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2023, Cinema Paradiso's 2022 Centenary Club, Cinema Paradiso's 2025 Centenary Club: April - June, Films to Watch If You Like..., Remembering Rob Reiner: An Instant Expert's Special, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 2, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, Top 100 AFI Laughs, Top Films
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 07/09/2009
- Run Time:
- 83 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- This is spinal tap feature with optional commentary from the band
- This is spinal tap: Up to 11 – new exclusive documentary
- "Sprinkle some f***in' fairy dust on it" – Exclusive interview with Reg Presley of The troggs
- 2007 Live Earth – Short film and performance
- The return of Spinal tap
- Stonehenge interviews with Nigel
- Outtakes – Over one hour
- Original theatrical trailers
- Music videos
- Creative meeting and 'bitch school' video
- TV spots
- Heavy metal memories
- Cheese roll trailer
- Flower people press conference
- Featurettes
- Menu music supplied, created, written and performed by Scarlett Carmina
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 12/01/2026
- Run Time:
- 83 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, French Parisian DTS-HD Stereo Master Audio 2.0, German DTS-HD VO Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
- Subtitles:
- Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, English Hard of Hearing, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish
- DVD Regions:
- Region 0 (All)
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- (0) All
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Reviews (1) of This is Spinal Tap
The Loudest Quiet Masterpiece - This is Spinal Tap review by griggs
Some comedies land in the moment and vanish; others lodge in the culture until quoting them becomes second nature. This one is firmly in the latter camp. “Turn it up to eleven” isn’t just a line anymore—it’s shorthand for excess itself.
What Rob Reiner and his cast pulled off still crackles with invention. By playing it straight, they made parody sharper than broad satire ever manages. The band is absurd, but never reduced to a punchline. They’re ridiculous and, somehow, heartbreakingly real. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer walk the fine line between self-delusion and sincerity, which is why the jokes feel fresher than many of the rock anthems they skewer.
The mockumentary form has been copied endlessly since, but few match the precision here. This Is Spinal Tap is both a send-up and a love letter to rock pomp, a film as clever as it is silly. It might just be the funniest rock film ever to take itself seriously.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.