This Is Spinal Tap15

Directed by Rob Reiner | USA | 1984 | 1h 23m | Starring Michael McKean, Christopher Guest. Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, Ed Begley Jr.

Presented as a rock documentary, This Is Spinal Tap follows “Britain’s loudest band” on a disastrous U.S. tour, skewering the egos, delusions, and chaos of life on the road in the 1980s metal scene. From miniature Stonehenge props to amplifiers that go to 11, Rob Reiner’s groundbreaking mockumentary remains the gold standard of music comedy, as sharply written and painfully funny today as it was in 1984.

Reviews

‘First of all, let’s just clarify something: This Is Spinal Tap is the funniest film ever made.’
★★★★★
Ben Falk, BBC

‘Reiner’s brilliant “rockumentary” sends up its subject matter and the documentary form, with such deft perception that confusing it with the genuine article is an easy mistake to make.’
★★★★★
Simon Braud, Empire Magazine

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed This Is Spinal Tap between September 5, 2025 and September 6, 2025.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Monday 16th March)

17:45

Cléo from 5 to 7 PG
1h 31m | French w/ English subtitles
While awaiting life-changing medical results, a pop singer wanders Paris, encountering strangers and herself anew. Agnès Varda’s intimate New Wave classic captures fleeting moments, female subjectivity, and 1960s Paris, lifted by Michel Legrand’s unforgettable music.

Book here

20:00

Another World 15
1h 51m | Cantonese w/ English subtitles
A spirit guide tasked with leading souls to reincarnation meets a troubled girl whose anger has unleashed a world-threatening curse. As he helps her confront her pain, they embark on a perilous journey in this award-winning Hong Kong animated fantasy.

Book here


Tomorrow (Tuesday 17th March)

17:45

Little Amélie PG
French w/ English Subtitles
1h 18m
Animated tale following Belgian toddler Amélie growing up in post-WWII Japan. With companion Nishio-san, she discovers everyday wonders as her third birthday marks a pivotal change. Nominated for Best Animation at this year’s Academy Awards.

Book here

19:45

The Secret Agent 15
£6 for Members
2h 41m | Portuguese w/ English subtitles
Carnival, communal resistance, political tensions, and a man's missing leg collide in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s slow-burning 1970s political thriller. The Oscar-nominated Wagner Moura stars in this gripping examination of Brazil’s turbulent past.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!