It’s hard to fully process and comprehend the shocking and horrifying way in which we lost the great Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, on Sunday evening. The details of their deaths are still being investigated as this article is being written, and frankly, the specific details aren’t our business to speculate or answers owed to us. As admirers of Reiner’s cinema and work, the best we can do for him and his art is simply look back and remember his impact. Reiner’s career spanned over four decades, coincidentally bookending in 1984’s “This is Spinal Tap” and its sequel, “The End Continues,” released only earlier this fall. The suddenness of his death leaves a painful curiosity about the life and work that lay ahead for Reiner. Still, it’s better to spend that same energy looking back on the iconic and excellent work he gifted us during his time on this planet.
Following the original Spinal Tap, Reiner directed “The Sure Thing,” “Stand By Me,” “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” “Misery,” and “A Few Good Men” all in a row. A mind-blowing run in hindsight, as those last five films in particular are arguably all household names that are loved by both cinephiles and general audiences alike. Films that each exist in their own genre, almost their own world, yet somehow the Reiner touch stays so consistent across all of them. Even something as cold as “Misery” with as iconic a villain as Annie Wilkes, somehow doesn’t feel out of place next to the family fantasy film “The Princess Bride.” There’s an underlying empathy and humor in Reiner’s work, one that is acutely aware of the silly human moments that fill our day-to-day lives. The little detours into comedy matter in Reiner’s work, whether it’s a memorable character, such as the small and unforgettable bit parts in “When Harry Met Sally,” or the nonstop, almost exhaustive comedy in “Spinal Tap,” it all feels wholly lived in and wholly Reiner.
“When Harry Met Sally” could perhaps be covered in ten articles of its own, the magic of that film, celebrating its thirty-fifth anniversary this year, seems to grow richer by the year. The warmth of the film and Nora Ephron’s screenplay is so delightfully brought to life, and while there is so much to praise about the screenplay and the two magnetic lead performances, the way Reiner conducts it all makes it electric and lasting. The way Reiner treats each character with so much respect in all his films is what makes them feel so alive. Despite the more unlikable traits of a character like Harry, you still desperately want him and Sally together cause of how human they both feel. It’s why the film resonates so deeply, even in the romantic landscape of 2025, and that legacy doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The way he respects the kids in “Stand By Me” as well, treating them as real, fully fleshed human beings, with struggles and ideas, and not just a comical innocence, is a breath of fresh air in cinema, particularly for a film as accessible and famous as the iconic King adaptation has become.
One of his final works is one of the films that came to mind first when learning of his passing, his 2023 Albert Brooks documentary “Defending My Life.” On paper, a pretty traditional celebrity documentary that dropped quietly on HBO, the film quickly reveals itself as an endearing conversation between old friends Rob Reiner and Albert Brooks. Even if you aren’t familiar with the work of Brooks, which is the core discussion of the film, the sparkling friendship between the two childhood friends is enough to delight, and I imagine today devastate, anyone who’s interested in further exploring Reiner’s work. There are so many blind spots of my own when it comes to Reiner, including his only best picture nominee, “A Few Good Men” (I know), a crime I hope to absolve myself of sometime this week to honor such a great and vital artist. There’s plenty of other films in his catalog that don’t get the recognition of his golden run, “Flipped,” “The Bucket List,” “North,” “The American President” and then more recent efforts like “Being Charlie” and “LBJ,” even if considered lesser are perhaps worth delving into to better understand someone as eclectic and beloved as Reiner. And who could ever forget his unforgettable supporting performance in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf Of Wall Street” and the hilarious banter he displayed with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill?
In the end, it’s hard to grapple with losing an artist whose work has affected your life in so many ways. In a way, writing about it is helpful, rewatching that work is helpful, but deep down there’s this desire for them to know how deeply their work impacted you and so many others. A willingness for Reiner to know I love the way you made us view the romantic comedy, hell, romance itself differently. I love the way you invented the mockumentary and made it almost impossible to top. I love the way you directed one of the greatest, most memorable horror performances to ever grace the big screen. I love the way you brought so many people together through the love of quoting “The Princess Bride.” I love the way you made us fall in love with so many different genres without ever losing your knowing and funny vision. And it’s not because we’re mourning, it’s because Rob Reiner was and is one of the greats to ever touch the medium, leaving behind a legacy that will touch us all for decades to come.
Have you seen any of Rob Reiner’s films? If so, what is your favorite? Please let us know in the comments section below and on Next Best Picture’s X account.
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