Tapeheads

Tapeheads (1988)

  • 60% of critics liked it
    (15 reviews)

  • 43% of users liked it
    (4,366 ratings)

In this high-energy satire of the music biz, Ivan Alexov (John Cusack) and Josh Tager (Tim Robbins) lose their jobs as security guards, and they decide to start their own video production company. Their first gigs are less than inspiring, including a rappin' commercial for a chicken-and-waffle… More

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R,
Directed By
Written By
Bill Fishman, Peter McCarthy, Jim Herzfeld
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Oct 1, 1988 Wide
Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    A painful attempt to satirize the making of rock videos that runs aground with a puerile plot and bombastic, self-infatuated delivery.

  • , Time Out

    It's all good fun: likeable performances, unpretentious, larky direction, and a haphazard story.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    The amiable screenplay by Mr. Fishman and Peter McCarthy is often funny, and never worse than silly.

  • Richard Harrington, Washington Post

    The irony is that nothing Fishman and his cohorts have come up with is really as funny as a two-hour slice of MTV itself.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    All of these elements have been lifted off the shelf of exhausted cliches, given a quick dusting, and plugged directly into the movie.

Read all 10 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • AJ V


    I love this movie, and it's virtually unheard of! It has two big stars: Tim Robbins and John Cusack, as two unemployed friends who start a music video production company, and the craziness that occurs along the way. It's really fun and entertaining, and very funny.… More

  • Conner R


    John Cusak's stash is the funniest thing I've seen on a human being. This movie is another buddy 80's movie and if you don't enjoy those then you probably won't like this. It does have a lot of heart and Mike Myers pretty much stole this idea for Wayne's… More

  • Jason S


    Good flick.

  • Lafe F


    Great comedy film about 80's music video production. Another good one is "The Big Picture".

  • Curt C


    The movie itself is all over the place, but still enjoyable; mostly due to the great chemistry between Cusack and Robbins in 'before they made it big' roles.

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Cast

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Trailers & Clips