Back in 1984, director Rob Reiner’s mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap premiered in movie theaters. 41 years later, the film returned to the big screen ahead of the arrival of its long-awaited sequel later this year. Fan excitement seems to be high for the new film, as the re-release of the original This Is Spinal Tap has been so successful that additional dates have been added.
Per Deadline, the limited re-release, featuring a restored and remastered version of This Is Spinal Tap, is pulling in $931.7k from 1,015 locations for Saturday and Sunday. This puts the film in the No. 10 spot at the domestic box office. With another $138k expected from its Monday date, the film will pull in $1.069 million over the course of the three-day special event. Because of the fan demand, additional dates have been added by Bleecker Street and Fathom Events for July 8, 9, and 10.
“We are thrilled with these early results of our re-release of Rob’s original This is Spinal Tap,» Bleecker Street Distribution President Kyle Davies said in a statement. «While showtimes were limited this weekend, and the initial engagement carries into Monday, we experienced sell-out shows across the country, demonstrating that interest in the world of Spinal Tap still ‘goes to 11.’ Glad fans and newcomers alike got a taste of these musical legends as we head into the release of Spinal Tap II later this year.»
Davis is referring to a joke featured in This Is Spinal Tap. In the film, Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) has a guitar amp that can be dialed up to 11 rather than the typical number scale of 0-10. It’s one of the most memorable gags of the original, of which there are many.
THe movie stars Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer as the stars of a fictional heavy metal band called Spinal Tap. The three actors improved much of their dialogue for the mockumentary, which spoofs rock documentaries. Though the film underperformed in theaters with less than $5 million earned domestically, This Is Spinal Tap went on to garner a cult following thanks to VHS rentals.
The Sequel Brings Back the Director and Original Stars
Reiner is back in the director’s chair for the sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. The film also brings back Guest as Nigel Tufnel, McKean as David S. Hubbins, and Shearer as Derek Smalls. Several major musicians are expected to have cameo appearances, including names like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Lars Ulrich, Questlove, and Trisha Yearwood.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues will hit theaters on Sept. 12, 2025. Meanwhile, for more information about the current tour of the original movie’s re-release, visit FathomEvents.com.
