The Best Movies Directed By Rob Reiner

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Updated March 15, 2024 27.8K views 19 items
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Over 500 movie fans have come together to vote on this list of the best movies directed by Rob Reiner. With a career spanning over four decades, Reiner has established himself as one of Hollywood's most versatile directors. He has helmed everything from romantic comedies to political dramas and is known for his ability to bring out the best in his actors.

Rob Reiner first gained recognition as an actor on the classic television show All in the Family before transitioning into directing with his debut film This Is Spinal Tap. Since then, he has directed some of cinema's most beloved films including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Stand By Me.

What makes these movies so special is how they capture timeless themes that resonate with audiences even today. Whether it's the power of true love or standing up for what you believe in when times get tough, each film on this list tells a unique story that leaves a lasting impression.

So without further ado, let's dive into our ranking of Rob Reiner's movies from best to worst. Don't forget to vote up your favorites and share your thoughts with fellow movie lovers.

  • Stand by Me
    1
    Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman
    152 votes
    In the engaging film Stand by Me, four young boys - Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman), and Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell) - embark on an unforgettable quest. Their aim? To locate a missing teenager's body somewhere in the woods of Oregon. Directed by Rob Reiner, this coming-of-age drama is based on Stephen King's novella The Body. It's a gripping tale about friendship, adventure, and the harsh realities of growing up. The film, ripe with poignant performances and a captivating storyline, won critical acclaim upon its release in 1986.
  • The Princess Bride
    2
    Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
    171 votes
    The Princess Bride is a whimsical blend of adventure, romance, and comedy. Westley (Cary Elwes), a humble farmhand-turned-pirate, embarks on an epic quest to rescue his beloved Buttercup (Robin Wright) from the clutches of the villainous Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). Alongside a colorful band of misfits including Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin), who seeks revenge for his father's murder, and Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), a cunning Sicilian strategist, Westley must navigate treacherous terrain and outwit deadly foes. This timeless tale, peppered with memorable lines and unforgettable characters, won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture in 1988. A film that transcends genre boundaries, it remains a classic in popular culture.
  • A Few Good Men
    3
    Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
    133 votes
    In A Few Good Men, Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), a military lawyer, defends two U.S. Marines accused of killing a fellow Marine at Guantanamo Bay. The prickly Colonel Nathan R. Jessep (Jack Nicholson) stands in his path as Kaffee seeks the truth behind this complex case. Rising to the challenge, Kaffee navigates a web of deception and cover-ups. This courtroom drama, directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, won an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, while Jack Nicholson scored a nod for Best Supporting Actor.
  • When Harry Met Sally...
    4
    Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher
    139 votes
    In the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally..., Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) find their lives intertwined over a span of 12 years. Initially meeting during a shared car ride from Chicago to New York, their relationship transforms from strangers to friends, challenging the question - can men and women be just friends? Directed by Rob Reiner, this film offers a humorous and touching portrayal of friendship and love. Nora Ephron's witty screenplay, which won a BAFTA award for Best Original Screenplay, brilliantly captures the complexity of modern relationships.
  • Misery
    5
    James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen
    118 votes
    In the chilling thriller Misery, acclaimed novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan) experiences a disastrous car accident in the midst of a blizzard. Rescued by Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates, in an Academy Award-winning performance), he soon finds himself held captive by his seemingly benevolent savior turned sadistic fan. The story unfolds as Sheldon, crippled and isolated, must devise a way to escape from Wilkes's demented clutches. Directed by Rob Reiner, this Stephen King adaptation delves into themes of obsession, mental instability, and survival, giving audiences a gripping tale that is sure to keep them on the edge of their seats.
  • This Is Spinal Tap
    6
    Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest
    115 votes
    This is Spinal Tap, a 1984 mockumentary, chronicles the fictitious British rock band Spinal Tap. The film stars Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) as members of the band. Directed by Rob Reiner (Marty DiBergi), the film cleverly parodies the wild lifestyle and musical pretensions of hard rock and heavy metal bands. It's known for its satirical insight into the music industry, presenting hilarious scenarios like a Stonehenge stage prop disastrously undersized. This cult classic won the Best Comedy Film award at Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film in 1985.
  • The American President
    7
    Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen
    96 votes
    In The American President, Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), a widower and the current U.S. President, finds himself falling for Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening). She's an environmental lobbyist who initially came to the White House to argue for her climate bill. Their budding romance unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and public scrutiny. This romantic comedy-drama, directed by Rob Reiner, presents a unique blend of personal relationships and political power plays. Richard Dreyfuss stars as Senator Bob Rumson, adding another layer of complexity to this engaging cinematic experience.
  • The Bucket List
    8
    Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes
    92 votes
    In the heartwarming comedy-drama The Bucket List, Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson), a billionaire hospital magnate, and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), a mechanic turned trivia buff, find themselves sharing a hospital room. Both grappling with terminal illnesses, they conspire to escape the sterile confines of the hospital ward. Together, they embark on an unforgettable journey around the globe, ticking off items from their 'bucket list' - a catalogue of things they want to see and do before they kick the bucket. This poignant tale weaves together humor and sentimentality in equal measure, highlighting life's simple pleasures amidst profound moments of reflection.
  • The Sure Thing
    9
    John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Nicollette Sheridan
    58 votes
    Gib (John Cusack), a college freshman, keeps striking out with women. When he learns that a beautiful Californian (Nicollette Sheridan) wants to have a tryst with him, he decides to carpool all the way to the West Coast to meet her. Unfortunately, one of the other passengers on the trip is Alison (Daphne Zuniga), an attractive but domineering girl who has rejected Gib once before. The journey is a nightmare until a funny thing happens -- Gib and Alison start to fall in love.
  • Ghosts of Mississippi
    10
    Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods
    61 votes
    In this film based on actual events, black activist Medgar Evers (James Pickens Jr.) is murdered in 1963, and much of the evidence points toward white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods). However, after two trials, De La Beckwith is acquitted twice by a jury of whites. Now, decades later in 1989, Evers' widow, Myrlie (Whoopi Goldberg), thinks she has evidence to finally convict him. But no lawyer will touch the case except the young and brash Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin).
  • Flipped
    11
    Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Rebecca De Mornay
    66 votes
    When they meet in second grade, Juli Baker falls instantly in love with her neighbor, Bryce Loski. Bryce, however, does not feel the spark. From that day forward, he (Callan McAuliffe) tries hard to keep brash and unpredictable Juli (Madeline Carroll) at bay. After six years, she begins to feel that she was wrong about him being the love of her life. Unfortunately, that is just about the time that Bryce begins to think he was wrong about Juli, too.
  • The Story of Us
    12

    The Story of Us

    Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tim Matheson
    49 votes
    After 15 years of marriage, Katie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her husband, Ben (Bruce Willis), have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good. Can they find enough that's positive in their marriage to keep it going?
  • 8
    13

    8

    Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis
    40 votes
    8 is a 2012 drama film written by Dustin Lance Black and directed by Rob Reiner.
  • North
    14
    Elijah Wood, Jon Lovitz, Matthew McCurley
    43 votes
    North (Elijah Wood) is a talented and bright kid, but his mom (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and dad (Jason Alexander) are utterly preoccupied with other things in their lives, leaving him largely ignored. Advised by a mysterious man (Bruce Willis) who pops up on occasion, North decides to legally separate himself from his parents and goes on a search across the globe for the ideal mother and father. Unfortunately for the young boy, most of the people that he meets have very little potential.
  • The Magic of Belle Isle
    15
    Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Madeline Carroll
    41 votes
    An alcoholic, disabled novelist finds his muse again after he moves into a lakeside cabin and meets a single mother and her daughters.
  • Rumor Has It
    16
    Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine
    44 votes
    Living in New York City, Sarah (Jennifer Aniston) must make the cross-country trip back to her home state of California for the wedding of her younger sister (Mena Suvari). Once with her family, Sarah learns some interesting things from her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine), including the family's inspirational ties to the famous film "The Graduate." But all this leads to millionaire Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner), and Sarah wants answers -- especially since Burroughs might be her real father.
  • Alex & Emma
    17
    Kate Hudson, Luke Wilson, Sophie Marceau
    38 votes
    Writer Alex Sheldon (Luke Wilson) must finish his novel within a month. If he doesn't, he won't get paid. And, if that happens, angry Mafia types to whom he owes money will come looking for him. In order to expedite things, Alex hires typist Emma Dinsmore (Kate Hudson) and begins dictating his novel. The book is about a doomed love affair between a character similar to Alex and a character named Polina Delacroix (Sophie Marceau). But, as Alex falls for Emma, his work takes a different turn.
  • Everyday Life
    18
    Rob Reiner
    32 votes
    Everyday Life is a 2004 comedy film directed by Rob Reiner.
  • Shock and Awe
    19
    Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, James Marsden
    21 votes
    Shock and Awe is a 2017 American drama film directed by Rob Reiner. Journalists investigate the assertions by the Bush Administration concerning Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction as an excuse for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.