Rob Reiner's five best films

"It is extraordinarily rare for a director to change the entire direction of comedy with their first feature, but that's exactly what Rob Reiner did with this legendary mockumentary. Following a disastrous American tour by a witless British rock group, This Is Spnal Tap manages to nail so many music industry cliches so perfectly that the film quickly became a mainstay of tour buses around the world. Reiner himself got in on the act, playing the blowhard documentary director Marty Di Bergi. The fact that"

"Reiner's run between 1984 and 1992 is the sort of thing most directors can only dream of. He spent those years dabbling in multiple genres, and producing a classic each and every time. When Harry Met Sally is a classic example. It was just Reiner's second romcom, but it instantly became the defining romcom of all time. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan play characters who spend years circling one another, unsure of whether a man and a woman can ever truly"

"Here is where Reiner's approach to film-making started to become clear. This was a man less interested in flashy visuals or personal style, and more interested in finding the best writers on Earth and wringing every last drop of potential out of them. In the case of The Princess Bride, that writer was William Goldman, who crafted a kaleidoscopic fantasy world full of heroism, revenge, romance and magic. Every character stands out. Every line sings. And Reiner gives the material exactly the treatment it deserves, knowing"

Rob Reiner transformed comedy with a debut mockumentary that lampooned music industry cliches and became a cultural touchstone. He performed as the blowhard documentarian Marty Di Bergi and used improvisation to generate enduring lines. Reiner maintained a streak of successful films from 1984 to 1992 across genres, producing memorable classics. When Harry Met Sally defined the romantic comedy with authentic performances, sharp writing, and emotionally true moments. The Princess Bride showcased a collaborative approach focused on exceptional writers like William Goldman, yielding vibrant characters, resonant lines, and precise directorial restraint.

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