This Is Spinal Tap (1984): cast, story & where to watch
1984 · Film · ★ 7.4
Released in 1984, This Is Spinal Tap is a comedy and music film directed by Rob Reiner, running about 82 minutes. “Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. "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.
Who’s in it. This Is Spinal Tap stars Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls and Rob Reiner as Marty DiBergi, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.4/10, This Is Spinal Tap has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $4.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch This Is Spinal Tap page.
If you liked it. Fans of This Is Spinal Tap tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch This Is Spinal Tap (1984)?
- In US, This Is Spinal Tap is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is This Is Spinal Tap worth watching?
- This Is Spinal Tap holds an audience score of 7.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and music. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in This Is Spinal Tap?
- This Is Spinal Tap stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner and June Chadwick.
- When was This Is Spinal Tap released?
- This Is Spinal Tap was released in 1984, with a runtime of about 82 minutes.