The 14 Movies and Shows That Defined Rob Reiner
The world shook on Sunday night with the news that Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, had been found dead in their Hollywood home. As theories swirled around the circumstances of their deaths, fans immediately started to share clips and quotes from their favorite Reiner films. And there were so many of them. One of the most successful directors of the ’80s and ’90s, Reiner and his movies helped define both of those decades of American pop culture and beyond. Around those hit films, he also juggled a prolific acting career, where he was first introduced to wide audiences. If you’re looking to revisit his body of work, here’s how to watch seven of his directorial efforts and seven of his acting gigs at home right now.
Note: Almost all of these are also on VOD along with the streaming services cited. If it only says “On VOD,” then it’s not available to subscribers anywhere, only at a per-episode or per-movie cost.
7 Movies Directed by Rob Reiner
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
He casually made one of the best comedy directorial debuts of all time with this mockumentary spoof of rock docs like The Last Waltz. Telling the story of the clashing egos and raging idiocy of the fictional Spinal Tap, Reiner both directed and starred as the filmmaker-within-the-film Marty DiBergi. This one wasn’t even a hit when it came out, which is hard to believe given how much it’s still quoted four decades later. (Note: The 2025 sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, is also on HBO Max.)
On HBO Max
Stand by Me (1986)
“Although I hadn’t seen him in more than ten years, I know I’ll miss him forever.” Reiner shifted gears and helmed this Castle Rock adaptation of the short story “The Body,” by Stephen King, making it into something completely new and moving. A coming-of-age story of friendship, Stand by Me has one of the best youth ensembles of its era, including a heartbreaking turn from River Phoenix.
On VOD
The Princess Bride (1987)
The legendary Carl Reiner gave his son Rob the William Goldman book on which this fairy tale is based and changed movie history. One of the most beloved films of its era, the story of Westley and Princess Buttercup is a film that millions of people hold close to their heart. These kinds of stats aren’t released, but we’d guess that it’s one of the most consistently watched flicks on Disney+, a movie that works for all demographics.
When Harry Met Sally … (1989)
Reportedly inspired by the divorce of Reiner and his wife Penny Marshall, Nora Ephron modeled Billy Crystal’s character in this film on the director himself, using the actual friendship between the star and filmmaker to produce a lot of the dialogue. A giant hit at the time, it’s a rom-com that’s held up remarkably well, a study in a question that will never truly be answered: “Can men and women ever be just friends?”
On Starz
Misery (1990)
“I’m your No. 1 fan.” With the only Stephen King movie to ever win an Oscar, Rob Reiner forever changed the way we look at stan culture. Kathy Bates is alternately terrifying and hysterical as the unforgettable Annie Wilkes, who kidnaps her favorite writer Paul Sheldon, played by an underrated James Caan. Bates is such a force of nature in this flick that the near-Hitchcockian manner in which Reiner does the best directorial work of his career was underrated.
On VOD
A Few Good Men (1992)
A gigantic hit at the time (over $240 million at the box office), this Aaron Sorkin–penned project became a pop-culture hit with “You can’t handle the truth,” but it’s more than just a memorable line. Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, and Kevin Bacon star in a flick that really reflects Reiner’s politics, too — a sense that people in power have a moral responsibility that can’t be ignored. It was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture.
On VOD
The American President (1995)
Rob Reiner’s last great film (sorry to fans of The Bucket List) was this 1995 rom-com with wonderful performances from Michael Douglas and Annette Bening. Douglas plays the U.S. president, who falls for a lobbyist played by Bening. Reiner was an old-fashioned filmmaker who knew how to tell a romantic story like this one, and the success of the film inspired Sorkin to continue working on a little project that would be called The West Wing.
On VOD
7 Movies and Shows Starring Rob Reiner
All in the Family (1971)
For a generation raised on streaming, it can be hard to convey what a hit All in the Family was in the ’70s. It was the most-watched show in the United States for five consecutive years. Why? It spoke to everyone. Conservatives saw themselves in the irascible Archie Bunker, but it was Reiner’s “Meathead” who often captured the true politics of the show, a title that made Reiner a star.
On Apple TV for $1.99 per episode
Throw Momma From the Train (1987)
Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal were best friends, which is likely how the director ended up playing the agent of Crystal’s novelist in this 1987 comedy co-starring and directed by another legend, Danny DeVito. A riff on Strangers on a Train, it features one of Crystal’s best ’80s performances. It probably helped that his BFF was around.
On MGM+
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
It’s telling how often people wanted to work with Rob Reiner more than once. Nora Ephron, who wrote Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally, gave her buddy a call when she was casting her gigantic hit with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Trivia you can use at the bar: Rob Reiner’s often credited with helping popularize tiramisu in the United States thanks to his lines about it in this film.
On Starz
The First Wives Club (1996)
He has a small part in this incredible ensemble, but just seeing Rob Reiner working with a comedy legend like Goldie Hawn (he plays her doctor) is a joy. At this point in his career, Reiner wasn’t acting very often, so it’s just fun to see him help elevate the comediennes of his generation like Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler.
On Paramount+
Primary Colors (1998)
Rob Reiner was never shy about his liberal politics, so it made sense to see him in this Mike Nichols gem about Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. His part here as Izzy Rosenblatt is a small one, but a rewatch could lead people down the path to discovering how much Reiner did for politics, especially California, where he fought for marriage equality and the safety of children.
On VOD
New Girl (2011)
This is the show that introduced Rob Reiner the Actor to an entire generation of TV fans. What a delight to see Meathead return as Jess’s father, Bob, in the second season, reminding us all of his perfect comic timing. He appeared in only 11 episodes — his first appearance was “Parents,” in season two — but he might have stolen all 11.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Rob Reiner does “shocked disappointment” very well. Just look at how he plays Max Belfort, the father of Leonardo DiCaprio’s morally bankrupt Jordan Belfort. In a very funny movie, he’s a standout just by being the ordinary guy in a room full of extraordinary idiots.
On Netflix and Paramount+
Related