This Is Spinal Tap
A determined documentary filmmaker sets out to chronicle Spinal Tap’s chaotic 1982 U.S. tour, only to battle the band's outrageous mishaps and egos before his footage can survive the mayhem.
“Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven.”
Synopsis
*This Is Spinal Tap* follows the journey of a metal band as it attempts to regain chart success, exploring its complex history of fluctuating fortunes, gold-certified albums, name changes, and under-attended concerts. The film also features the typical supporting cast of groupies, promoters, hangers-on, and historians, alongside recording sessions, album releases, and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments that add authenticity to the band's world.
Credits
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How many hands made this film
The scale of the collaboration
A crew of 137+ credited
Why a floor?
This is a minimum, not a total. We only count the credits we’ve captured so far, and coverage is uneven — a blockbuster might show a few hundred names while another of the same size shows a couple dozen. The real crews all ran into the thousands. The number here only grows as full credits are enriched — so we frame it as a floor, never a headcount.
Craft leads on file
Edited by Kent BeydaShot by Peter SmoklerScored by Christopher GuestDesigned by Bryan JonesSound by John Brasher
Box Office
1984 · Box office
⚖️ Fell short of break-even — grossed 2.4× its budget
Why 2.5×?
Cinemas keep roughly half of every ticket sold, and a wide release’s marketing often costs about as much again as the film — so a movie needs to gross around 2.5× its production budget just to break even theatrically. It’s a rule of thumb, not the studio’s ledger (home video and streaming come later).
Worldwide gross
$6.1M
US & Canada: $4.5M — 74% of worldwide · International: $1.6M (26%)
Re-release box office
- 20251,015 theaters
- $2.0M($2.1M today)
- 200011 theaters
- $222K($426K today)
- Total re-release
- $2.2M
Domestic gross earned in theatrical re-release, by year · adjusted for inflation
Full synopsis
Also known as
- Die Jungs von Spinal Tapde
- This Is Spinal Tapes
- Spın̈al Tapfr
- (English)This Is Spinal Tap
- (French)This Is Spinal Tap
- (Bulgarian)Това е Спайнъл Тап
Release dates around the world3 countries · showhide
- NetherlandsMar 2, 1984
- United StatesMar 2, 1984
- United KingdomMay 3, 1984
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Cast & Crew
137 unique people credited
Top billed cast
Rob Reiner
as Marty DiBergi
Michael Mckean
as David St. Hubbins
Christopher Guest
as Nigel Tufnel
Kimberly Stringer
as Heavy Metal Fan
Chazz Dominguez
as Heavy Metal Fan
Shari Hall
as Heavy Metal Fan
R J Parnell
as Mick Shrimpton
David Kaff
as Viv Savage
Tony Hendra
as Ian Faith
Harry Shearer
as Derek Smalls
Bruno Kirby
as Tommy Pischedda
Jean Cromie
as Ethereal Fan
Supporting cast
52Patrick Maher
as New York M.C.
Ed Begley Jr
as John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Danny Kortchmar
as Ronnie Pudding
Fran Drescher
as Bobbi Flekman
Patrick Macnee
as Sir Denis Eton-Hogg
Memo Vera
as Bartender
Julie Payne
as Mime Waitress
Dana Carvey
as Mime Waiter
Sandy Helberg
as Angelo DiMentibelio
Robin Menken
as Angelo's Associate
Zane Buzby
as Rolling Stone Reporter
Billy Crystal
as Morty the Mime
Jennifer Child
as Limo Groupie
J J Barry
as Rack Jobber
George Mcdaniel
as Southern Rock Promoter
Paul Benedict
as Tucker 'Smitty' Brown
Anne Churchill
as Reba
Howard Hesseman
as Terry Ladd
Paul Shortino
as Duke Fame
Cherie Darr
as Fame Groupie
Lara Cody
as Fame Groupie
Andrew J Lederer
as Student Promoter
Russ Kunkel
as Eric 'Stumpy Joe' Childs
Diana Duncan
as Jamboree Bop' Dancer
Gina Jourard
as Jamboree Bop' Dancer
June Chadwick
as Jeanine Pettibone
Victory Tischler Blue
as Cindy
Joyce Hyser
as Belinda
Gloria Gifford
as Airport Security Officer
Paul Shaffer
as Artie Fufkin
Archie Hahn
as Room Service Guy
Charles Levin
as Disc 'n' Dat Manager
Wonderful Smith
as Janitor
Anjelica Huston
as Polly Deutsch
Chris Romano
as Little Druid
Daniel Rodgers
as Little Druid
Fred Willard
as Lt. Hookstratten
Fred Asparagus
as Joe 'Mama' Besser
Rodney Kemerer
as L.A. Party Guest
Robert Bauer
as Moke
Raechel Donahue
as End of Tour Party Guest
Lindsay Doran
as End of Tour Party Guest
Sean Frye
as Jordan St. Hubbins - David's Punk Rocker Son
Helen Kelly
as Pod' Concert Viewer
Paul Korda
as Rock star, LA party guest
Blackie Lawless
as Commercial Headbanger
Louie Merlino
as Ricky
Artie Ripp
as End of Tour Party Guest
Claudia Sloan
as Girlfriend
Spinal Tap
as Themselves
Brinke Stevens
as Girlfriend
Sam Whipple
as Recording Engineer
Directors
1Writers
4Producers
2Other crew
80Susan Rogers
acknowledgment: still photographs provided by
Stan Harris
additional art director
Bob Carmichael
additional camera operator
Hilyard John Brown
additional camera operator (as H.J. Brown)
Thomas Geren
additional camera operator (as Tom Geren)
James Maher
art director: Pop, Look & Listen
Rod Blackie
assistant camera
Steven Green
assistant camera (as Steve Green)
Christine Cholvin
assistant editor
Leslie Cornyn
assistant production controller
Bernt Amadeus Capra
assistant production designer (as Bernt Capra)
Robert Bauer
band road manager
Parents Guide
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