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When discussing Hollywood’s most versatile directors, there are few names that carry the same warmth as Rob Reiner. From his early days as “Meathead” on All in the Family to becoming a much-loved filmmaker, Reiner has demonstrated a rare ability to master almost every genre he touches.
Whether he is skewering rock and roll culture with a mockumentary, crafting the definitive childhood coming-of-age story, or terrifying with claustrophobic thrills, his films always have heart, humour and human connection.
Ranking the best Rob Reiner films is no easy task, as his work spans from the frightening halls of a snowy Colorado home to the witty, fast-paced streets of Manhattan. His collaborations with legendary writers like Nora Ephron, William Goldman, and Stephen King have produced some of the most quotable and enduring moments ever committed to cellluloid.
As we dive into this countdown, we celebrate a director who understands that whether you are laughing, crying, or hiding behind a pillow, a great movie at its core is all about how we relate to one another.
10. Ghosts Of Mississippi (1996)
This biographical courtroom drama sees Reiner bring the true story of Medgar Evers to the screen. Evers was shot dead in his own driveway by a white supremacist in 1963. While the murderer was arrested, he escaped justice due to hung juries.
Years later, lawyer Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) joins Evers’ widow Myrlie (Whoopi Goldberg) to take on the case, believing evidence of jury tampering gives them the cause to bring the killer back to trial. James Woods, who plays Medgar Evers’ assassin, Byron De La Beckwith, would be nominated for an Academy Award for the film.
9. The American President (1995)
Reiner assembles a terrific cast in this sweet-natured romantic-comedy. Indeed, it features one of Michael Douglas’s most charming performances as President Andrew Shepherd. Others delight in smaller roles such as Michael J. Fox, Samantha Mathis, John Mahoney and Richard Dreyfuss. There’s a nice mix of political drama and romance here, with the director ensuring the film has plenty of idealistic optimism to keep things warm and softly centred.
8. The Bucket List (2007)
When it comes to recommending The Bucket List, I feel I only need to say the names Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, and that’s enough. This pair of Hollywood legends team up with Reiner for this late-life road trip, each ticking off a bunch of life goals after learning of terminal illnesses.
Interestingly, the film’s writer, Justin Zackham, had made his own “bucket list” of things to do before he died, including getting a film made by a major studio. This warm-hearted 2007 effort from Reiner turned out to be that film. The director neatly balances melancholy and sentiment with plenty of laughs, and Freeman and Nicholson are never anything less than a delight.
7. A Few Good Men (1992)
More courtroom theatrics from Reiner’s filmography, and one that ranks alongside the best the courtroom drama genre has to offer. Assembling another stellar cast (Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, J. T. Walsh), the director reunites with Kiefer Sutherland while Tom Cruise takes the lead as Navy lawyer Daniel Kaffee. He’s tasked to step in after two marines are court-martial after a murder on their base. It’s famous for Jack Nicholson’s immortal line: “You can’t handle the truth.”
6. The Sure Thing (1985)
The Sure Thing was Reiner’s second film as director and it was an important one. It served his career well for two reasons: it was financially successful, giving him the commercial clout to win favour from the major studios, and it was met by good reviews. Roger Ebert actually called it a “small miracle”, praising the film for its honesty and sensitivity around teenage issues during a time when the sex comedy was proving popular.
The story follows John Cusack’s Gib, who drives across country to meet the “sure thing” of a film’s title – a girl who has been lined up for Gib to sleep with if he can make it from New Englang to Los Angeles. Reiner has a keen eye for the art of character arcs and that’s on full view here. For instance, there aren’t many directors to rival Woody Allen’s shrewd human observation but Reiner accomplished it with When Harry Met Sally and again with The Sure Thing.
One of the most memorable moments happens when Daphne Zuniga’s Alison hitchhikes a ride with a dirty old man. Nice guy Gib secretly follows. When the old man makes an inappropriate gesture to Alison, Gib jumps out and pretends to be a escaped mental patient, saving the day.
5. The Princess Bride (1987)
A cult favourite that often comes up on all-time best comedy movie lists, The Princess Bride is a beloved offbeat love letter to, and parody of, fairytale stories. It’s based on William Goldman’s book, which tells the story through the telling of it by a grandfather to his grandson.
The swashbuckling adventure sees Cary Elwes’ Westley heading off to rescue Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the dastardly Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).
Everyone has their favourite moments, especially Mandy Patinkin’s line, “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die”, during the sword fight with Christopher Guest’s Count Tyrone Rugen.
But, for me, I always look forward to seeing Billy Crystal turn up as Miracle Max alongside his on-screen wife Carol Cox, the pair bickering as Max tries to save Westley’s life. “Don’t rush me, sonny. You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles.”
4. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
When Harry Met Sally is one of those films everyone knows. Whether you’ve seen and loved it, or just heard about iconic moments like Meg Ryan’s surprise orgasm in the diner, the film has entered the “Hall of Fame” of romantic-comedy movies. It’s a film that even people who don’t ordinarily have any time for the genre can get a kick out of.
For Reiner, it’s a very personal film. The original idea – based on the concept of platonic relationships between men and women – came from the director’s divorce from Penny Marshall. Nora Ephron elaborated upon it, eventually developing the screenplay, with Harry loosely based on Reiner, and Sally inspired by Ephron herself as well as acquaintances. Actor Billy Crystal, who would play Harry, had the freedom to be creative with his character, and much of the dialogue that makes the final cut is based on his friendship with Reiner. All this conspires to create a film that is very close to the director’s heart.
3. Stand By Me (1986)
For many, Stand by Me is Rob Reiner’s best film. And it is a great adaptation of a Stephen King story. Purely on taking King’s source novella, The Body, and bringing it to the screen, I don’t think there are many better (apart from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining). That’s the film’s strength: it captures the story’s nostalgia for small-town living and the curiosity of childhood, and gives it a cinematic polish (I’m envisioning the scene in which the boys run across the bridge from an oncoming train).
Part road movie, part coming of age story, Stand by Me draws much of its qualities from the perfect casting and Reiner’s confidence working with talented young actors. There’s something very natural about their friendship; the bonds feel real. It’s the unforgettable adventure, the one that makes you pine for those childhood summers once again.
2. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Reiner’s directorial debut, a mockumentary co-written by the filmmaker alongside actors Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, follows a British heavy metal band during a tour of America to promote their latest album. Its hilarious targets include the pretentiousness of rock stars and the sycophants who fawn over them.
That Guest, McKean and Shearer are all accomplished musicians – writing and performing songs like Stonehenge and Big Bottom – gives This Is Spinal Tap a sense of realism that makes the trio’s delicious dry wit and unexpected absurdism land even harder.
Scenes such as Nigel Tufnel (Guest) describing why his amp goes up to “11”, and the band’s difficulty in navigating backstage corridors to find the main stage during one concert, remain some of the funniest moments of any comedy from the 1980s. Reiner, who also appears on screen, smartly allows his three leads the freedom to improvise, their comic talents coming to the fore through their iconic character creations.
1. Misery (1987)
When I think of the best Rob Reiner films, it’s hard not to instantly see Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery. The Oscar-winner delivers a barnstorming performance, creating a villain that takes every sinew of Stephen King’s literary monster and adds a veneer of sly wit. She shakes the soul with her terrifying sadism as much as she curiously tickles the funny bone.
Until this point in his career, Reiner hadn’t done anything like Misery before. He was known for comedy – This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride had all arrived before. His pedigree, however, lay in the brilliant adaptation of another King story. In 1986, four years prior to making Misery, he’d brought Stand by Me to the screen, showing a rare vulnerability we’d not seen in his previous efforts.
Not only did this tale of four best friends searching for a dead body underline Reiner’s ability to understand the nuances of King’s work – confidently bringing the literary great’s mix of nostalgia, dark humour, primal fear, and smalltown camaraderie to the screen – but it gave audiences a taste of the director’s creative flexibility.
Ultimately, Reiner is responsible for not one but two of the best Stephen King film adaptations. Misery, which locks us in the house of Bates’ Annie Wilkes as she keeps the author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) captive, torturing him in order that he writes a new novel in which her favourite character doesn’t die, is a remarkable example of relentless psychological terror.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which of the best Rob Reiner films are based on Stephen King stories?
Rob Reiner is widely considered one of the most successful directors at adapting Stephen King’s work. He directed two major classics: the nostalgic coming-of-age drama Stand By Me (1986), based on the novella The Body, and the psychological thriller Misery (1990). His production company, Castle Rock Entertainment, was even named after the fictional Maine town where many of King’s stories take place.
Which Rob Reiner movie features the famous “You can’t handle the truth” line?
That iconic moment belongs to the 1992 courtroom drama A Few Good Men. The line is delivered by Jack Nicholson (playing Colonel Nathan R. Jessup) during a high-stakes cross-examination by Tom Cruise’s character. The film is celebrated as one of Reiner’s most intense dramas and was a massive critical and commercial success.
What was Rob Reiner’s directorial debut?
Reiner made his directorial debut with the 1984 “rockumentary” This Is Spinal Tap. Not only did he direct the film, but he also co-wrote it and appeared on screen as the filmmaker Marty DiBergi. The movie pioneered the mockumentary genre and remains a cult classic for its improvisational style and satire of the music industry.
Are any of Rob Reiner’s films considered romantic comedies?
Yes, Reiner is responsible for some of the most influential rom-coms in history. When Harry Met Sally (1989) is often cited as the gold standard of the genre, exploring whether men and women can truly be “just friends.” He also directed the charming political romance The American President (1995) and the 1985 road-trip comedy The Sure Thing.
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