Rob Reiner’s early decade of movies still marks him out as a director of rare talent

15 December 2025

Creator: Jesse Grant / Credit: Getty Images for TCM

Rob Reiner’s early work behind the camera remains one of the most remarkable runs in modern Hollywood history and even now stands as testament to a filmmaker whose instincts, versatility and emotional intelligence set him apart from his peers. Reiner first found fame as an actor in the 1970s as Michael “Meathead” Stivic on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family but it was his shift into directing in the mid-1980s that revealed his true and lasting gifts as a storyteller. The first ten years of his directing career produced an extraordinary string of films that were diverse in style yet unified by a commitment to depth, humour and humanity. These early films from This Is Spinal Tap to A Few Good Men remain influential and beloved, and they helped establish Reiner’s reputation as a filmmaker capable of both commercial success and artistic resonance.

Reiner’s directorial debut came with This Is Spinal Tap in 1984, a cult classic that reinvented the mockumentary with deadpan precision and comic insight. Reiner even appears on screen as the affable documentary maker Marty DiBergi, an affectionate homage to directors like Martin Scorsese and a clever narrative hook. The film’s improvisational feel and rapid comic pace made it an instant favourite among home-video audiences who delighted in its meticulous construction and sharp satire of fame and pretension. In a film under 90 minutes, Reiner packed in more laughs and more cultural insight than many seasoned directors achieve in much longer features, and the film’s influence on comedy and pop culture has endured.

Next came The Sure Thing, a breezy odd-couple comedy reimagining Frank Capra’s classic It Happened One Night for a new generation. Though not an immediate blockbuster, the film demonstrated Reiner’s ability to shepherd young performers like John Cusack and establish a distinctive rhythm and charm in a lighthearted story. With each successive project, Reiner showed a growing confidence and willingness to explore different genres, an approach that would define his early directorial identity.

His third feature, Stand By Me, remains a touchstone of the coming-of-age genre. Adapted from Stephen King’s novella The Body, it follows four boys on a poignant journey through friendship, loss and self-discovery. The film captures both the innocence and complexity of youth with heart and clarity, grounded by powerful performances from young actors including Wil Wheaton and the late River Phoenix. Reiner’s direction here reveals his capacity to balance sentimentality with authenticity, creating a film that resonates deeply with audiences of all ages and continues to be cited as one of the most affecting dramas of the 1980s.

Reiner followed with The Princess Bride, a beloved fairy-tale adventure that infused swashbuckling romance with wit and whimsy. Adapted from William Goldman’s novel, the film became a sleeper hit and introduced iconic lines and characters that generations of fans still quote today. In crafting The Princess Bride, Reiner proved he could handle not only drama and comedy but also fantasy, threading genuine warmth through every scene and uniting cast and story in a way that felt effortless yet inspired.

Then came When Harry Met Sally … in 1989, a romantic comedy with a spark of originality and cultural influence that few films in its genre have matched. Written by Nora Ephron and featuring unforgettable performances by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the film explored the intricate dance between friendship and love with wit, warmth and keen emotional intelligence. The now-famous deli scene and its punchline became part of cinematic lore, and the film’s success helped define the modern romantic comedy.

Reiner’s versatility emerged again with Misery in 1990, a chilling adaptation of another Stephen King novel. The film ventures into psychological horror with Kathy Bates in an unforgettable performance as an obsessive fan and James Caan as the trapped novelist. Bates won an Academy Award for her role, underscoring Reiner’s ability to elicit both critical acclaim and box-office success while handling darker, more intense material.

His seventh film of this remarkable period, A Few Good Men, brought courtroom drama to the mainstream in 1992 with a taut script, powerful performances, and the now-legendary “You can’t handle the truth” exchange between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. Nominated for Best Picture, the film showcased Reiner’s command of pacing and emotional stakes in a genre that could easily feel staid under less assured direction.

Despite this sequence of creative triumphs, Reiner was never personally honoured with an Academy Award nomination for directing, a fact that many cinephiles find astonishing given the cultural and artistic impact of his work. Nevertheless, the quality and breadth of his early films cemented his place in Hollywood as a director with a rare gift for storytelling that could bridge comedy, drama, romance and thriller.

Later in his career, Reiner’s output was less uniformly celebrated. Films such as North stumbled at the box office and with critics, and subsequent projects ranged in style and success. Yet even as the decades passed, the afterglow of his golden decade continued to support his reputation. Films like The American President and various smaller projects showcased a filmmaker willing to explore different narratives, even if they did not achieve the acclaim of his earliest works. Documentary projects, including Albert Brooks: Defending My Life, hinted at Reiner’s continuing interest in diverse forms of storytelling.

That early decade stands out because it revealed a director with abundant imagination and an ability to spot universal truths in unexpected places, whether it was a mock heavy metal band, a group of young friends, or a pair of lovers posing as mere friends. His work from this period continues to shape how audiences think about genre, character and emotion in film. Even with a career that spanned many years and styles, those initial films remain his legacy in many people’s eyes, a body of work that still marks him out for greatness.