Get ready to smell the glove all over again. With a long-in-the-works sequel on the horizon, the originalThis Is Spinal Tapis rocking back into theaters for its 41st anniversary. A new trailer from Bleecker Street showcases the highlights (and lowlights) of the landmarkmockumentary. The remastered film hits theaters on July 5 for a limited run until July 7, thanks to Fathom Entertainment.
The trailer hits the comedic highlights of the film, as represented by the litany of misfortunes that befall the hapless rockers on an American tour. That includes getting lost on their way to the stage, the band getting second billing to a puppet show, and, of course, the stage props for their progressive rock epic “Stonehenge” being built eighteen inches tall instead of eighteen feet, putting them at risk of being “crushed by a dwarf.” It also spotlights some of the band’s pitch-perfect parody discography, including “Heavy Duty” and “Big Bottom.” The re-release comes in advance of the film’s new feature-length sequel,Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, which will be released in the fall.
What Is ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ About?
This Is Spinal Taptakes the form of a faux documentary about British heavy metal band Spinal Tap, directed by longtime fan of the band Marty Di Biergi (Rob Reiner, who actually directedThis Is Spinal Tap). They’re in America to tour for their new album,Smell the Glove, but their popularity has seriously waned over the years. As the tour lurches from disaster to disaster, the band begins to fray, prompted by checked-out lead singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) and his increasingly controlling girlfriend Jeanine Pettibone (June Chadwick), the eccentricities of bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer), and the general cluelessness of guitarist Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest). The film also starsFran Drescheras publicist Bobbi Flekman,Paul Shafferas incompetent promoter Artie Fufkin, andPatrick MacNeeas record executive Sir Denis Eton-Hogg. Although the film wasn’t a huge box office success, it developed a cult following on home video and is now considered one of the greatest comedies of all time.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continueswill reunite Tufnel, St. Hubbins, Smalls, and Di Bergi for a new behind-the-scenes look at Spinal Tap’s reunion after fifteen years apart for one final show. Drescher and Shaffer will reprise their roles from the original film, while musiciansPaul McCartney,Elton John,Garth Brooks,Questlove,Trisha Yearwood,Chad Smith, andLars Ulrichwill appear as themselves. It is set to hit theaters on July 28, 2025.
This Is Spinal Tapwillreturn to theaters on July 30, 2025. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
This is Spinal Tap
