This Is Spinal Tap poster

This Is Spinal Tap

Closer Strong film that finishes even stronger
1984 · Comedy, Music · Rob Reiner

51% across 146 head-to-head matchups is a strong record on its own. What makes This Is Spinal Tap unusual is that the number actually understates how it performs when it matters most. The mockumentary that invented the form is also the one nobody has surpassed, and "these go to eleven" alone has kept it in the cultural conversation for four decades. Voters who love it don't just prefer it — they evangelize.

Synopsis

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

Round 1
47.7%
41/86
Semifinals
46.3%
Finals
78.9%
Where it thrives

Each round is better than the last: 48% opening, 46% semi, 79% final. The competition gets tougher and This Is Spinal Tap gets better — a pattern that doesn't show up often.

The closest rivalry is with Stand by Me at 48% — a matchup tight enough that a handful of votes could flip the lead. On the other end of the spectrum: Misery at 86% is a comfortable win, while The Sure Thing at 33% is the matchup This Is Spinal Tap can't crack.

Closest Rival
Dominates
Misery
85.7%
Kryptonite

Inconceivable! Rob Reiner's Golden Age: This Is Spinal Tap clears Stand by Me in the opening round and dispatches Misery at 86% in the final. A convincing start-to-finish run.

This Is Spinal Tap is one of Rob Reiner's strongest bracket performers — #3 of 8, trailing only The Princess Bride (68%).

BingeBracket Record
51%
Win Rate
#15 of 48 in Comedy #9 of 23 from the 1980s #3 of 8 Rob Reiner films
Scores based on real fan votes in head-to-head brackets. 50% = wins as often as it loses — perfectly average.
Featured Tournament

#3 of 8 in Inconceivable! Rob Reiner's Golden Age.

Think it deserves the gold? Cast your vote now.

The Princess Bride #1
Misery #2
This Is Spinal Tap #3
A Few Good Men #4
Stand by Me #5
When Harry Met Sally... #6
The Sure Thing #7
The American President #8
Vote Now
About These Rankings

BingeBracket ranks films through head-to-head matchups in 8-film brackets — no star ratings, no reviews, just direct comparison. Browse tournaments, try Discovery mode, or explore the leaderboards. You can also .

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