Top Ranked Films of Rob Reiner

Rob Reiner: actor, director, dad

Rob Reiner
3 titles, 93rd in points with 9,078

Rob Reiner is best known as (a) the son of Carl Reiner, who played the producer on the Dick Van Dyke show (b) the Meathead on All in the Family on tv (c) a quality comedy director. Pick any letter, I first knew him as Meathead; at any rate, he’s far funnier than his dad.

These are all the films of American director Rob Reiner that made the top 1000 in our 2011 update of theTop Ranked 1000 Films on the Net, all polls.

1. This is Spinal Tap (1984) #208 Great parody of heavy metal, only you have to listen to the terrible music, which should put it in the lower 500 at best; fast forward! head bangers are so stupid they thought this was a real band and music stores were swamped with dummies looking for real Spinal Tab cds – proof that the music makes your synapses go on permanent vacation
2. Princess Bride, The (1987) #321 Fun silliness with the fantasy genre
3. Stand by Me (1986) #571 An ok, nostalgic comedy about kids being kids; seemed to lack passion and punch to me, I’ve never wanted to rewatch it

Out of the top 1000
4. When Harry Met Sally (1989) #1695 A crime that this isn’t ranked, one of the best romantic comedies of our era, though Billy Crystal is a first-class jerk of a guy

Reiner the Meathead with Sally Struthers

in All in the Family

When Harry Met Sally is becoming one of the most rewatched New Year’s films, and romantic films. I know couples that have parties to watch this on New Year’s Eve, which is the day the film ends with, and it feels appropriate when it does.

Other good films of Reiner’s that didn’t make polls are A Few Good Men, An American President, Misery, The Story of Us, and Ghosts of Mississippi – he could arguably have 6-7 ranked titles.

Reiner has won 12 awards out of 34 nominations. His A Few Good Men was nominated for a best picture Oscar. Some are a little bogus, like “lifetime acheivement” at a California film festival, and two are Emmys for supporting actor in All in the Family. (I never count the 'star on the Hollywood walk of fame' as an award, though IMDB does, making Rin Tin Tin and Winnie the Pooh award winning actors)

Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner

See the full list of top ranked 100 directors here: Top Ranked 100 Directors, 2011 Edition