A nonlinear analysis is presented for low-velocity impact behavior of a graphene platelets-reinforced metal foams (GPLRMF) cylindrical shell with spinning motion in thermal environment, in which the initial geometric imperfection is incorporated. Taking three different graphene platelets (GPLs) distribution patterns into account, the GPLs reinforcement is either uniformly-distributed or functionally-graded along the shell thickness direction. The temperature-dependent micromechanical model is applied to estimate the material properties of GPLs reinforced composites. The nonlinear Donnell thin shell theory is utilized to derive the motion equations, in which von Kármán-type of kinematic nonlinearity is included. The influences of geometrical imperfections, spinning velocity, different boundary conditions, GPLs distribution patterns, foam distribution types, foam coefficient, GPLs weight fraction, temperature changes, the impactor’ radius and initial velocity, prestressing force and damping