The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to solve for the free surface of a thin liquid drop draining down a vertical wall under gravity. The analysis is based on the smallness of the surface tension term in the lubrication equation. In a region local to the front of the drop, where the surface curvature is large, surface tension forces are significant. Everywhere else, the surface curvature is small, and surface tension plays a negligible role. A numerical time‐marching scheme, which makes no small surface tension assumptions, is developed to provide a datum from which to gauge the accuracy of the small surface tension theory. Agreement between the numerical scheme and the small surface tension theory is good for small values of surface tension. Extension to the propagation of drops by spinning and by blowing with a jet of air is also discussed. It is shown that there are inherent similarities between all three spreading mechanisms.