HBO Max Just Dropped a Classic 80s Comedy and Its 2025 Sequel—Stream the Double Feature Today

HBO Max just dropped a two-for-one for anyone who still quotes 'these go to 11' in casual conversation. The original 1984 mockumentary 'This Is Spinal Tap' is finally streaming there, and the brand-new sequel 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' is up too — only three months after it hit theaters.

So what is the new one about?

Short version: the guys are older, crankier, and forced back together. David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest), and Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) are estranged, but circumstances push them into one last concert. Rob Reiner is back not just behind the camera but also onscreen as Marty Di Bergi, the earnest documentarian who cannot quit this band. The movie finds the trio wrestling with legacy, mortality, and the band’s famously chaotic track record — including the drummer situation, which remains... precarious.

'...the hope that their 12th drummer doesn’t join them in The Great Beyond.'

Who made it and who shows up

• Directed by Rob Reiner (yes, the 'The Princess Bride' Rob Reiner), who co-wrote the script with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer.
• The leads — Guest, McKean, and Shearer — also produced alongside Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner, and Matt George.
• Cameos/appearances from music royalty: Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, and Trisha Yearwood.
• Reception check: the sequel sits at 66% on Rotten Tomatoes from 133 reviews. The original is Certified Fresh at 98% from 175 reviews. No pressure.

If you are catching up

The original is the blueprint for rock mockumentaries — dry, weird, and way too plausible. Dropping the sequel on streaming alongside the classic is smart; it lets you bounce from the 80s myth-making to the 2025 reckoning without killing the vibe. Also, seeing Reiner resurrect Marty Di Bergi to chase the band around again is a very specific kind of meta nod that longtime fans will appreciate.

Both 'This Is Spinal Tap' and 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues' are streaming on HBO Max now.