Let’s hope they got a bigger dressing room than the puppets.
“Spinal Tap: The End Continues” bowed in theaters two weeks ago, roughly 41 years after “This Is Spinal Tap” introduced mockumentaries to the masses.
And nobody cared, apparently.
The new film has brought in $2.5 million since its Sept. 12 debut, a paltry sum given the first film’s devoted following and the lack of blockbuster competition.
The original “Tap” wasn’t a box office hit ($5.8 million US), but it became a cultural obsession. Endlessly quotable, the faux documentary captured ’80s metal with a wink and a nod.
Director Rob Reiner’s sequel hoped to capitalize on decades of goodwill. The film reunites the key members from the 1984 comedy – Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest – along with bit players like Fran Drescher and Paul Shaffer.
Plus, new cameos from Elton John and Paul McCartney spiked the marketing punch. At least in theory.
So why didn’t the new film draw a crowd? Some theories:
- It’s Better on Streaming: Nostalgia sequels like “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” and “Happy Gilmore 2” wowed with their home debuts. A second “Tap” may have made a far bigger impact had it followed that route. People like comfort food cinema at home.
- Reiner’s TDS: The film’s director may have the worst case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, something which could have turned off potential moviegoers. The trailer’s brief Stormy Daniels quip suggested Reiner might turn the sequel into an anti-Trump affair. Reviews suggest nothing of the sort happened, but the director’s divisive politics (along with McKean’s X feed) didn’t help.
- The Original Is Lightning in a Bottle: Some movies are so perfect as is, or at least perfect for the time in question, that the notion of a sequel seems absurd. If rock isn’t dead in 2025 it’s on life support, and many of the music tropes the first “Tap” mocked are no longer in play. A “Spinal Tap” sequel doesn’t make sense from a cultural standpoint.
- The Critics Didn’t Sell It: A huge review hug might have told wary audiences that this sequel rose above expectations. Instead, “The End Continues” snagged a modest 65 percent “fresh” rating at Rotten Tomatoes along with plenty of catcalls. Plus, even the positive reviews were far from fawning.
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