On Dec. 14, the world tragically lost American filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. As a director of masterful films over four decades, Reiner showcased an unparalleled versatility and cultural reach.
Although he began his career as an actor, Reiner’s repertoire as a director is arguably most responsible for his cultural influence. Three generations have been entertained and influenced by his comedic satires, fantasies and dramas.
Below are brief unranked reviews, sorted by release date, of some of Reiner’s most culturally impactful films that are as beloved as they are respected. Collectively, they demonstrate his talent for injecting humor and emotion into his work, no matter the genre.
“This Is Spinal Tap” (1984)
Reiner’s first directorial feature, “This Is Spinal Tap” marked his pivot from television to film director. The film also changed comedy forever by essentially inventing the “mockumentary,” or mock documentary, genre with its highly effective deadpan satire. A paragon of situational comedy, the film follows the fictional British punk rock band “Spinal Tap” on their disastrous nationwide comeback tour. Most of the dialogue is actually improvised — another hallmark of the genre — producing some of the most quotable lines in movie history, such as the phrase “these go to 11.” A perfect satirical take on rock documentaries, Reiner created arguably one of the funniest movies ever made. “This Is Spinal Tap” deserves a watch for its top-notch humor that defined a new subgenre of comedy.
“Stand By Me” (1986)
Reiner jumped from satire to emotional realism, and no movie exemplifies the coming-of-age genre more. Based on Steven King novella’s “The Body,” “Stand By Me” follows four adolescent boys on a physical and emotional journey through rural Oregon to find the body of a boy who was hit by a train, as they learn powerful lessons about friendship and growing up along the way. As the 12 year-old Chris, River Phoenix gives one of the most affecting child performances in movie history. While structurally simple, the film is deeply moving, even devastating — a quintessential watch while growing up that retains meaning as viewers age.
“The Princess Bride” (1987)
An enduring crowd-pleaser, “The Princess Bride” is framed as a storybook read aloud, following a farm boy who must rescue his true love from a villainous prince — battling enemies and assembling a motley crew along the way. Here, Reiner pairs absurdity with realistic emotion to create a story that is just as whimsical as it is funny. This delicate, powerful balance comes through in the iconic quote by the criminal henchman Inigo Montoya who utters before his duel with the prince near the film’s end, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” “The Princess Bride,” like “Stand By Me,” is meaningful at any age for its timeless message about love’s endurance through adversity and the film’s masterful combination of romance, adventure and comedy.
“When Harry Met Sally” (1989)
Written by Nora Ephron and starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, “When Harry Met Sally”
is the blueprint for modern romantic comedies. The film spans 12 years as the titular characters seek to answer an essential question of whether platonic friendship can truly exist between men and women, or if the matter of sex always gets in the way. The film is as witty as it is romantic, and as a representation of love, it offers depth in a genre not known for such — avoiding the corniness common to rom coms. The iconic deli scene containing the oft-quoted line “I’ll have what she’s having,” during which Sally fakes an orgasm to prove men can’t distinguish between a real and fake one, intelligently and humorously defies expectations for female sexuality in mainstream film. Doubtlessly contributing to its realism, the film’s story was intimately influenced by Reiner’s own life. His disillusioning early experience with relationships after his divorce inspired him to first make the film — but then his heartening experience falling for Michele during the movie-making process inspired him to change its ending to its current hopeful one, according to a 2024 interview. Defining the modern rom com as one characterized by emotional intelligence and playful sophistication, “When Harry Met Sally” imparts a thought-provoking message about love while offering dazzling entertainment.
“Misery” (1990)
“Misery” marked a unique departure for Reiner from comedy and drama into horror — which he nonetheless elevated into a work that is poignant and funny besides hair-raising. In this film based on Stephen King’s eponymous novel, Kathy Bates delivers a terrifying, Academy Award-winning performance as a former nurse claiming to be a huge fan of writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan) when she rescues him from a car crash and promises to care for him. Soon, however, Annie’s discovery that her favorite character doesn’t survive in Paul's series incites her increasingly disturbing behavior, prompting Paul to plot his escape. Based on William Goldman’s screenplay, Reiner delivered a stunning adaptation of King’s story that leaves viewers a little horrified while reflecting on the nebulous boundaries between fans and artists. He weaves comedic moments into the dark plot with his signature mastery and brings to life nuanced characters that toe the line between warmth and menace.
