The entertainment world is reeling from the loss of one of its greats.
Director and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were killed on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Reiner began his career in Hollywood as an actor, winning two Emmy awards for his seven-year run on sitcom “All in the Family.” He then pivoted to directing with his feature debut “This is Spinal Tap,” and he would go on to direct a string of classics, including “Stand By Me,” “A Few Good Men” and “The Princess Bride.”
For many movie fans, it’s impossible to think of certain genres without also immediately thinking of a Reiner film.
“Spinal Tap” helped launch the mockumentary, “Stand By Me” is the pinnacle of 1980s coming-of-age and “When Harry Met Sally…” set the tone for modern romantic comedies. His films even helped put contemporary twists on time-honored tropes, like the psychological thriller in “Misery” and the straightforward courtroom drama in “A Few Good Men.”
In addition to winning two Emmys, Reiner was nominated for one Academy Award, one British Academy Film Award, and nine Golden Globes.
To celebrate the life of one of the greats, here’s where you can stream some of his best work, both in front of and behind the camera.
Before his illustrious career as a filmmaker began, Reiner was an actor, and “All in the Family” was his breakout role. Reiner starred opposite Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton in the sitcom as Michael “Meathead” Stivic, the hippie boyfriend (later husband) of Archie Bunker’s daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers). Meathead, part of the counterculture of the 1960s, was often sparring with Archie due to their opposite beliefs. Reiner appeared in 174 of the series’s 205 episodes.
Stream on: Tubi, Pluto TV
In 1975, Reiner hosted the third-ever episode of “Saturday Night Live.” In addition to sketches featuring Reiner, the episode also featured Andy Kaufman and Reiner’s then-wife, Penny Marshall.
Stream on: Peacock
In 1984, Reiner made his directorial debut with “This is Spinal Tap,” a music mockumentary following the members of a fictional heavy metal band, Spinal Tap. Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer star as members of Spinal Tap in the cult classic.
Stream on: HBO Max
One of the most prolific coming-of-age films, “Stand By Me” adapts Stephen King’s 1982 novella, “The Body,” and follows four boys (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell) as they set out on a journey to search for the dead body of a missing boy.
Stream on: Netflix, Prime Video (buy or rent)
Reiner’s genre-hopping 1980s run continued in 1987 with “The Princess Bride,” an adaptation of William Goldberg’s fantasy adventure novel. The story follows Westley (Cary Elwes), a swashbuckling farmhand who, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright), from the odious Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).
Stream on: Hulu, Disney+ with Hulu
In 1989, Reiner and screenwriter Nora Ephron set out to answer one simple question: Can men and women ever just be friends? Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan starred as Harry and Sally, two people who meet in Chicago and become friends over a series of chance encounters over the next 12 years. The rom-com is famous, in part, for its “I’ll have what she’s having” scene in Katz’s Deli (which actually features Reiner’s mother as the woman who utters the famous line).
Reiner and Michele Singer’s relationship influenced the story of “When Harry Met Sally…,” the director revealed in 2024. It initially ended on a sad note, but after meeting Singer while the film was in production, Reiner was inspired to change the ending to the one now seen in the film.
Stream on: Starz, Starz via Prime Video
Reiner followed up his rom-com with another Stephen King adaptation: “Misery,” a psychological horror/thriller novel. James Caan stars in “Misery” as famed novelist Paul Sheldon, who is held captive by obsessive fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates).
Stream on: Prime Video (buy)
In 1992, Reiner received his first and only Oscar nomination for “A Few Good Men,” which he produced and directed. The legal drama, starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore, also marked the film debut of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, and features one of the most best movie quotes of all time, according to AFI: “You can’t handle the truth!”
Stream on: Prime Video (buy)
Reiner re-teamed with Sorkin in 1995’s “The American President,” a romantic comedy-drama set in the world of politics. Michael Douglas plays President Andrew Shepherd, a widower who pursues a romantic relationship with an environmental lobbyist, Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), who has just moved to Washington, D.C.
Stream on: Prime Video (buy or rent)
Following his run on “All in the Family,” Reiner’s TV appearances were typically as himself, but from 2012 through 2018, he recurred on “New Girl” as Bob Day, Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) father, who has a lot in common with Jess’ love interest Nick Miller, but disapproves of the relationship anyway.
Stream on: Hulu, Disney+ with Hulu, Peacock
In 2013, Reiner worked with Martin Scorsese on “The Wolf of Wall Street.” He played Max Belfort, the father of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort, in the epic bio-drama.
Stream on: Tubi, Pluto TV, Paramount+
In 2023, Reiner directed a tribute to actor, comedian, film director, and screenwriter Albert Brooks, who was also one of Reiner’s best friends since high school. Much of the doc is a conversation between the two men that encompasses Brooks’ long career in Hollywood.
Stream on: HBO Max
Reiner’s final TV appearance came earlier this year, when he debuted as a new recurring character in Season 4 of “The Bear.” He appeared in three episodes as Albert Schnur, a consultant who mentored chef Ebra (Edwin Lee Gibson) and helped him create a new business plan for the restaurant’s beef window.
Stream on: Hulu, Disney+ with Hulu
“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” is the final film Reiner released before his death. The follow-up mockumentary catches up with the members of Spinal Tap reuniting after 15 years for one final show together.
Stream on: HBO Max
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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on all of the best deals to shop at Bath & Body Works, and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
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