Rob Reiner Reflects on the Misunderstood Debut of “This is Spinal Tap”

Director Rob Reiner recently shared his thoughts on how his 1984 cult classic, This is Spinal Tap, was widely misunderstood upon its release 41 years ago. He explained that initial audiences often mistook the mockumentary for a real documentary. “It started out slow,” Reiner recounted, “People didn’t get that it was satire. After the first screening, many asked, ‘Why make a film about a band nobody’s heard of?'”

The film stars Reiner as Martin DeBergi, a filmmaker documenting a fictional British heavy metal band called Spinal Tap during their disastrous US tour. The cast includes Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer as the band members, with the plot centered around their humorous misadventures.

The movie faced significant challenges gaining acceptance. “We tried for years,” Reiner said, “showing a 20-minute demo reel, but no one understood the humor or vision. It was only after Norman Lear, my former boss, took a leap of faith and financed it that we could bring it to life.” Lear’s support was pivotal, with Reiner noting he was a career-defining champion.

Despite early skepticism, the film gained a dedicated following and even caught the attention of prominent rock stars. Reiner recounted an encounter with Sting, who confided, “I’ve watched it so many times, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.” This is Spinal Tap has since been added to the National Film Registry, and the phrase “goes to 11” has entered the Oxford English Dictionary to describe anything taken to an extreme.

To mark its 41st anniversary, the film will be screened nationwide from July 5-7, celebrating its enduring cultural impact.