In Theaters and Digital

Forty-one years ago… they turned it up to eleven. Now, they can barely find the volume knob.

The loudest band in rock ’n’ roll history is back—whether the world asked for it or not. In Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, the bandmates (sans drummer), stumble out of retirement, out of therapy, and maybe out of breath, for one final concert that could either cement their legacy… or blow out their pacemakers.

Behind the camera once again is Marty DiBergi (Rob Reiner), still obsessed with chronicling his heroes as they confront aging, mortality, and the eternal curse of their revolving-door drummers.

Along the way, the band is joined by living legends Paul McCartney and Elton John, proving that even rock gods need backup. The result? A bittersweet, blisteringly funny encore that asks the immortal question: can a band that always went to eleven finally reach twelve?

Reiner’s Spinal Tap II: The End Continues proves that lightning can indeed strike twice—albeit with a slightly fuzzier, middle-aged distortion pedal. Four decades after the original mockumentary became the gold standard of rock ’n’ roll satire, Reiner and his band of deadpan misfits return with a sequel that is both pleasantly familiar and surprisingly fresh. The result is a film that doesn’t just coast on nostalgia but cleverly riffs on it, delivering another hilariously ridiculous comedy.

The secret, once again, lies in the straight-faced absurdity. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer – all of whom also co-write – slip effortlessly back into their personas as David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls, respectively. Their delivery is so stone-cold serious that the silliest lines land like thunderclaps. A sequence involving an audition for a new drummer—where the band nearly implodes debating whether “Aahs” or “Lahs” should be the background vocal—stands out as one of the most perfectly drawn gags in the film. The genius, as always, is that everyone treats the nonsense with utmost sincerity.

The humor balances call-backs to the original with sharp new material. Nigel’s post-Tap career as the proud owner of a combined cheese and guitar shop (with an outrageously complicated pedal board on display) is played with such specificity it feels like an in-joke that never ends. The McCartney and Elton cameos inject the film with a sly authenticity, winking at rock royalty while underscoring Tap’s enduring cult status.

Reiner also sprinkles in moments of bittersweet reflection. Cutaways to the band’s youthful heyday provide more than just a nostalgic tug—they quietly comment on the resilience (and absurdity) of aging rockers who refuse to quit. It’s a surprisingly touching layer beneath the silliness, reminding us that time spares no amplifier.

Not every joke lands: a subplot involving Derek Smalls awkwardly hitting on the band’s much younger new drummer (newcomer Valerie Franco) feels more icky than subversive, and a glue-up-the-nose gag falls flat. But these are minor quibbles in a film that otherwise hums with satirical energy.

In the end, The End Continues is exactly what fans hoped for: a hilarious encore that plays the hits, tries out a few new riffs, and never loses sight of the joke. It’s a reminder that Spinal Tap, much like rock itself, will never truly fade away—it’ll just keep turning things up to eleven.

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 83 mins
Director: Rob Reiner
Writer: T.J. Fixman
Cast: Christopher Guest; Michael McKean; Rob Reiner
Genre: Documentary | Comedy | Music
Tagline: The End Continues
Memorable Movie Quote: "The more we retreat into the music the nicer things become. Not to be profound or anything, and it would be a first time for me."
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Official Site: https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/spinal-tap-ii/
Release Date: September 12, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: The band reunite after a 15-year break for one final concert.