This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

This Is Spinal Tap (1984) is a razor-sharp mockumentary that follows Marty DiBergi, a documentary filmmaker, as he trails Spinal Tap—an over-the-top English heavy‑metal band—on an ill-fated American tour. Shot and acted to feel like a real rock film, it blends faux-concert performances, candid backstage moments, and improvisational dialogue to chronicle a group whose egos, bad luck, and absurd decisions send them from packed arenas to tiny charity gigs. Iconic scenes (the Stonehenge stage prop, the “up to eleven” amp joke) and deadpan interviews lampoon rock-star excess while revealing the petty human frustrations behind the myth of fame. Seeing the movie you’ll get a satirical, laugh-out-loud look at the music business: clever parody of rock clichés, painfully funny mishaps, memorable one-liners, and strangely believable band dynamics. The tone moves between affectionate mockery and genuine melancholy, so you’ll both cringe and root for the band as their tour unravels—all set to catchy, absurdly earnest songs that complete the illusion of a real, tragically ridiculous rock group.

Actors: Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest

Director: Rob Reiner

Runtime: 82 min

Genres: Comedy, Music

7.3 /10 92 /100 7.9 /10 8.1 /10