IMDb RATING
5.7/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
A couple of creative losers accidently become big shots in the video music industry.A couple of creative losers accidently become big shots in the video music industry.A couple of creative losers accidently become big shots in the video music industry.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe band Ranchbone in this movie is portrayed by the real life ska-punk band Fishbone. Both John Cusack and Tim Robbins are big fans of the band in real life. Robbins can even be seen wearing a Fishbone t-shirt in a scene in the movie Bull Durham (1988) released earlier that same year.
- Quotes
Ivan Alexeev: Josh, losing those jobs is the best thing that ever happened to us! We're free to pursue our destiny!
Josh Tager: What, abysmal failure?
Ivan Alexeev: Negativity festers in you, man!
- Crazy creditsAfter the final credits, there is one minute of video static with the following superimposed text: Oh ... and by the way, the next time you're passing through Santa Monica, CA., stop in at Renee's Courtyard Cafe.
- Alternate versionsThe 1990 UK video was cut by 48 secs by the BBFC to remove all footage of nunchakus and butterfly knives. The 2002 release is uncut.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Say Anything (1989)
- SoundtracksBetcher Bottom Dollar
Performed by The Swanky Modes
Written by Brian Adler
Produced and Arranged by Bob Rose
Featured review
Amusing commentary on 80's music-videos scene
In the 80's, back when MTV actually played videos, I spent plenty of time with it on in the background, the way radio was in earlier decades. Tapeheads captures that in spades - the glitzy, superficial, just plain stupid, yet weirdly captivating 80's music video scene, from behind. With spoof videos like King Cotton in the "Roscoe's Chicken and Waffle Commercial", and Devo backing Cube-Squared's video ("The hottest thing from Sweden since Abba") in mock-Swedish, and some stunningly good performances by "The Swanky Modes" (Sam Moore and Junior Walker), it sticks in your head. This is no "The Shawshank Redemption" or "Grosse Point Blank" - If you're seeing it for Tim Robbins and John Cusack - this is late-80s throwaway kitsch, and it shows - and there's nothing wrong with that. If you think more "Better off Dead" or "Cadillac Man", you're in the right ballpark. Frankly, it's refreshing to see them in something early in their careers, having some fun. If you enjoyed your videos in the 80's, it's worth checking out.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Tapeheads - Verrückt auf Video
- Filming locations
- Los Angeles County, California, USA(Location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $343,786
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $133,330
- Oct 23, 1988
- Gross worldwide
- $343,786
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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