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In a first-timer, we're having TWO directors in the same week. What?? You're welcome. Yesterday was John McTiernan's post, and now you'll have a post dedicated to Rob Reiner
Here's a new edition of "Directors at the Box Office", which seeks to explore the directors' trajectory at the box office and analyze their hits and bombs. I already talked about a few, and as I promised, it's Rob Reiner's turn.
The son of Estelle and Carl Reiner, he studied at the UCLA Film School. Through his parents, he starting acting in guest roles for many shows in the 60s. In 1971, he had his big break by starring in the sitcom All in the Family , which was the most watched show in America for five seasons. After 8 seasons, he left the series to focus on other projects. He chose to move his career to movies, just not as actor, but as director.
From a box office perspective, how reliable was he to deliver a box office hit?
That's the point of this post. To analyze his career.
It should be noted that as he started his career in the 1980s, some of the domestic grosses here will be adjusted by inflation. The table with his highest grossing films, however, will be left in its unadjusted form, as the worldwide grosses are more difficult to adjust. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
"Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven."
His directorial debut. The film stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Reiner. It follows Martin "Marty" Di Bergi, a documentary filmmaker who follows the American tour of the heavy metal band Spinal Tap, who are characterized as "one of England's loudest bands".
Michael McKean and Christopher Guest met while in college in New York City in the late 1960s, and they played music together. They worked with Harry Shearer and Rob Reiner on a TV pilot in 1978 for a sketch comedy show called The TV Show , which featured a parody rock band called Spinal Tap. During production of that sketch (while being burned with oil from an on-stage effect) McKean and Guest began to improvise, inventing characters that became David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel.
Reiner procured $60,000 from Marble Arch Productions to write a screenplay with McKean, Guest and Shearer, based on the Spinal Tap characters. They realized after a few days of writing that no script could capture the kind of movie they wanted to make, so they decided instead to shoot a short demo of the proposed film. They shopped the demo around to various studios but had no takers, until television writer-producer Norman Lear decided to back the project, providing them with a budget of $2 million.
Virtually all dialogue in the film is improvised. Actors were given outlines indicating where scenes would begin and end and character information necessary to avoid contradictions, but everything else came from the actors. As often as possible, the first take was used in the film, to capture natural reactions. Reiner wanted to list the entire cast as writers on the film to acknowledge their contributions, but the Writers' Guild objected, and so only he, Guest, McKean, and Shearer received writing credit.
The film received the backing of a small studio, so it didn't earn much money. It made $4 million, which was barely enough to cover the budget. But the film received critical acclaim, and was named among the best films of 1984 and one of the greatest comedies ever made. Critics praised the film not only for its satire of the rollercoaster lifestyles of rock stars but also for its take on the non-fiction film genre. Many musicians have also praised the film for its incredibly accurate depiction of backstage lives. It has been credited with "effectively" launching the mockumentary genre.
Budget: $2,000,000.
Domestic gross: $4,736,202. ($14.3 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $4,736,202.
The Sure Thing (1985)
"A sure thing comes once in a lifetime... and the real thing lasts forever."
His second film. The film stars John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Viveca Lindfors, and Nicollette Sheridan. The film chronicles the cross-country journey of college students Walter Gibson and Alison Bradbury as they make their way from New England to Los Angeles over Christmas break, each in an effort to meet their ideal romantic match.
The origins of the film came from an experience writer Steven L. Bloom had while attending Brown University. During this time, his best friend was attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and was constantly recounting the good times he was having, which Bloom felt left out of. Out of pity over his situation his friend arranged for him to meet a sure thing over spring break, so Bloom found a ride through a ride board and drove to Atlanta with a number of other students.
The film earned over four times what Spinal Tap did, becoming a box office success. It also received a very favorable response from critics. Reiner was just going up.
Budget: $4,500,000.
Domestic gross: $18,135,531. ($52.9 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $18,135,531.
Stand by Me (1986)
"For some, it's the last real taste of innocence, and the first real taste of life."
His third film. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, it stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and Kiefer Sutherland. The film is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon, in 1959, and follows four boys who go on a hike to find the dead body of a missing boy.
Originally, Adrian Lyne was hired to direct but he dropped out after needing vacations. Reiner signed after reading the script, although he felt it did not have focus, so he put Gordie as the main focus of the film. He has said that he identified with Gordie, as he himself struggled with the shadow of fame cast by his comedian father, Carl Reiner. Before filming started, Embassy was sold to Columbia Pictures, which made plans to cancel the production. Norman Lear, one of the co-owners of Embassy, gave $7.5 million of his own money to complete the film, citing his faith in Reiner and the script.
The film started in limited release in 16 theaters, before expanding nationwide. It was soon clear that Reiner made another winner, as the film earned $52 million. The film was also critically acclaimed, and was named among the greatest Stephen King adaptations. Reiner himself considers the film to be his best.
Budget: $8,000,000.
Domestic gross: $52,287,414. ($149.8 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $52,287,414.
The Princess Bride (1987)
"Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity. Battling Rodents of Unusual Size. Facing torture in the Pit of Despair. True love has never been a snap."
His fourth film. Based on the novel by William Goldman, it stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Fred Savage, and Peter Falk. It tells the story of a swashbuckling farmhand named Westley, accompanied by companions befriended along the way, who must rescue his true love Princess Buttercup from the odious Prince Humperdinck. The film preserves the novel's metafictional narrative style by presenting the story as a book being read by a grandfather to his sick grandson.
Reiner, who had been enamored with Goldman's book ever since he was given it as a gift from his father, realized he wanted to make the film adaptation after successfully demonstrating his filmmaking skill with This Is Spinal Tap . During production of Stand by Me , Reiner had spoken to an executive at Paramount Pictures regarding what his next film would be, and suggested the adaptation of The Princess Bride . He was told they could not, leading Reiner to discover that several studios had previously attempted to bring Goldman's book to the big screen without success. He received financial support from Norman Lear, and 20th Century Fox agreed to distribute.
The film received critical acclaim, and it has appeared as one of the best romantic and funny films ever. It had slow roll-out, but it was clear the audience loved it (a rare "A+" on CinemaScore). But despite that exceptional word of mouth, the film failed in recoup its budget, earning just $30 million. Nevertheless, it became a cult classic after its release to the home video market. The film is widely regarded as eminently quotable, with so many lines now becoming used in our daily life. Reiner was just killing it.
Budget: $16,000,000.
Domestic gross: $30,857,814. ($85.1 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $30,959,674.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
"Can two friends sleep together and still love each other in the morning?"
His fifth film. It stars Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby. The story follows the title characters from the time they meet in Chicago and share a drive to New York City through twelve years of chance encounters in New York. The film addresses the question "Can men and women ever just be friends?"
In 1984, Reiner, producer Andy Scheinman, and writer Nora Ephron met over lunch at the Russian Tea Room in New York City to develop a project. Reiner pitched an idea for a film that Ephron rejected. The second meeting transformed into a long discussion about Reiner and Scheinman's lives as single men. Reiner remembers, "I was in the middle of my single life. I'd been divorced for a while. I'd been out a number of times, all these disastrous, confusing relationships one after another." The next time they all met, Reiner said that he had always wanted to do a film about two people who become friends and do not have sex because they know it will ruin their relationship but have sex anyway. Ephron liked the idea, and Reiner acquired a deal at a studio.
For materials, Ephron interviewed Reiner and Scheinman about their lives, creating the basis for Harry. Reiner was constantly depressed and pessimistic yet funny. Ephron also got bits of dialogue from these interviews. Sally was based on Ephron and some of her friends. The script initially ended with Harry and Sally remaining friends and not pursuing a romantic relationship because she felt that was "the true ending", as did Reiner. Eventually, Ephron and Reiner realized that it would be a more appropriate ending for them to marry, though they admit that this was generally not a realistic outcome. Reiner related that the film originally had a sad ending before he met his second wife Michele, which inspired him to change the ending.
The film started in limited release. It debuted with $1,094,453 in 41 theatres, the second highest-grossing opening weekend for a film on fewer than 50 screens, behind Star Wars . The following week, it expanded and earned $8 million. Buoyed by extraordinary word of mouth ("A+" on CinemaScore), the film held insanely well and closed with $93 million. The film also received critical acclaim, and it is wll remembered as one of the greatest rom-coms in history. Man, Reiner was just something else.
Budget: $16,000,000.
Domestic gross: $93,117,425. ($235.8 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $93,274,466.
Misery (1990)
"Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he's writing to stay alive."
His sixth film. Based on the novel by Stephen King, it stars James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances Sternhagen. The plot centers around an author who is held captive by an obsessive fan who forces him to rewrite the finale to his novel series.
Producer Andrew Scheinman read Stephen King's novel on an airplane, and later recommended it to Reiner, his partner at Castle Rock Entertainment. Reiner eventually invited writer William Goldman to write the film's screenplay. William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Richard Dreyfuss, Gene Hackman, and Robert Redford were considered to play Paul Sheldon, but all turned it down. Warren Beatty signed to star, but dropped out as production on Dick Tracey fell behind, so James Caan was cast. Goldman then suggested Kathy Bates to play Annie Wilkes, despite not being a known star at the time.
The film was another major success for Reiner, earning $61 million domestically. The film was critically acclaimed, with Bates received universal praise for her performance. She would wind up winning the Oscar for Best Actress for the film, making it the only Stephen King film to win an Oscar. A common Reiner W.
Budget: $18,000,000.
Domestic gross: $61,276,872. ($147.2 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $61,276,872.
A Few Good Men (1992)
"In the heart of the nation's capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government, one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth."
His seventh film. Based on the play by Aaron Sorkin, it stars Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, J. T. Walsh, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Kiefer Sutherland. The plot follows the court-martial of two U.S. Marines charged with the murder of a fellow Marine and the tribulations of their lawyers as they prepare a case.
Aaron Sorkin was inspired to write the source play from a phone conversation with his sister Deborah. A graduate of Boston University Law School, she had signed up for a three-year stint with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. She said that she was going to Guantanamo Bay to defend a group of Marines who had nearly killed a fellow Marine in a hazing ordered by a superior officer. Sorkin sold his play's film rights to producer David Brown before it premiered, in a deal reportedly "well into six figures". Brown was producing a few projects at TriStar Pictures, and tried to interest them in adapting the play, but his proposal was declined due to the lack of star actors. Brown received a call from Alan Horn at Castle Rock Entertainment, who was anxious to make the film. Reiner, a producing partner at Castle Rock, opted to direct.
Reiner made another critically acclaimed film, lauded for its performances and script. It was also his biggest film at the box office; it made over $240 million worldwide, perhaps thanks to the presence of Cruise and Nicholson, who were the most profitable stars back then. The film was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, making it Reiner's first nomination.
7 films, and all of them were a major success one way or another. It was unclear how Reiner was doing, but he was doing something special. He was unstoppable. Even if the rest of his films pale in comparison, he would still be regarded as one of the best filmmakers of our era if he constantly delivers films like these. No way he messes it up...
Budget: $33,000,000.
Domestic gross: $141,340,178. ($316.3 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $243,240,178.
North (1994)
"Ever wonder what your life would be like with different parents? A boy named North did."
His eighth film. The film is based on the novel by Alan Zweibel, and stars Elijah Wood, Jon Lovitz, Jason Alexander, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates, Faith Ford, Graham Greene, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Reba McEntire, John Ritter, Abe Vigoda, and Bruce Willis. North is a talented and bright kid, but his mom and dad are utterly preoccupied with other things in their lives, leaving him largely ignored. Advised by a mysterious man 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.
Despite Reiner and Zweibel's enthusiasm for the film, some of the actors weren't exactly fond. Bruce Willis disliked the script and nearly passed on appearing in the film, but he was persuaded by his then wife Demi Moore who had just been directed by Reiner in the A Few Good Men . Kathy Bates also disliked the script initially and was also advised to turn down the movie by her agent. She only agreed to appear because she felt indebted to Reiner as he had directed her to an Oscar winning performance in Misery . She felt working with Reiner again was necessary as her way of saying thank you for Reiner's help in her winning the Oscar.
Reiner was on a winning streak and he showed no signs of stopping. Yeah, there were concerns over the script, but the execution is what matters. Surely that's gotta be a home run.
Short version: No.
Long version: Fuck no.
The film was a huge flop at the box office, earning just $12 million. But the only thing worse than its box office receipts... the reviews. Well, to quote Norm MacDonald (RIP): Reviewers are calling it everything, from "shit" to "fucking shit!" It received disastrous reviews, with some even calling it among the worst films ever made. The film is well known for Roger Ebert's scathing review, which also shares the title of his book, I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie , a compilation of reviews of films most disliked by him. Reiner defends the film, but it was clear he made a huge failure here. How do you go from 7 well-made classics... to this?
If you watched the film, my condolences. And if you never watched it, you may ask, is the film bad? The answer is no... it's even worse than you can imagine.
Budget: $50,000,000.
Domestic gross: $7,182,747. ($15.2 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $12,182,747.
The American President (1995)
"Why can't the most powerful man in the world have the one thing he wants most?"
His ninth film. It stars Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, David Paymer, Samantha Mathis and Michael J. Fox. The film focuses on President Andrew Shepherd, a widower who pursues a relationship with environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade while at the same time attempting to win the passage of a crime control bill during a re-election year.
Originally, actor Robert Redford approached a number of screenwriters with the single-line premise, "the president elopes". Sorkin, on the basis of his treatment, was selected by Redford to write the screenplay with Redford attached to star. He wrote the screenplay while high on crack cocaine, taking him three years to finish. Emma Thompson turned down the role of Sydney Wade. When Reiner was brought aboard to direct, Redford dropped out. At the time, in October 1994, with cameras set to roll on November 30 of that year, Redford's publicist attributed his decision to his desire "to do a love story, but (Reiner) wanted to do something that was ultimately about politics". Other sources suggested that Redford and Reiner "didn't get along,...It was a personality thing."
The film earned $107 million worldwide, although it couldn't recoup its budget. But after the colossal failure of North , it was a much needed success for Reiner. The film was also critically acclaimed. Roger Ebert, who gave North zero stars, gave this film his maximum 4 stars. Ebert said after detesting North he was very happy and pleased to give Reiner's next film a unanimously positive review.
The screenplay for the film inspired many aspects of Sorkin's later television drama The West Wing . The two productions follow the staff of a largely idealized White House, and like many of Sorkin's projects, share ideologies.
Budget: $60,000,000.
Domestic gross: $60,079,496. ($123.8 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $107,879,496.
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)
"Is it ever too late to do the right thing?"
His tenth film. The film stars Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, and James Woods. The film is based on the 1994 trial of Byron De La Beckwith, a white supremacist accused of the 1963 assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
The film was a box office failure, and it received mixed reviews, particularly for its decision to focus more on De La Beckwith than Evers.
Budget: $36,000,000.
Domestic gross: $13,323,144. ($26.6 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $13,323,144.
The Story of Us (1999)
"Can a marriage survive 15 years of marriage?"
His 11th film. It stars Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer. Ben and Katie, a married couple, go through difficult times and face problems. After fifteen years of marriage, they discover that they no longer love each other.
The film received negative reviews, particularly for the lack of chemistry and feeling Reiner recycled When Harry Met Sally... 's structure. Even with two bankable names, it marked another box office flop for Reiner.
Budget: $50,000,000.
Domestic gross: $27,100,031. ($51 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $58,900,031.
Alex & Emma (2003)
"Is it love... or are they just imagining things?"
His 12th film. It stars Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson, and follows a writer who must publish a novel in thirty days or face the wrath of loan sharks.
Another panned comedy for Reiner. And it marked his fifth bomb in a row. In a row!
Budget: $30,000,000.
Domestic gross: $14,218,698. ($24.2 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $15,368,897.
Rumor Has It... (2005)
"Based on a true rumor."
His 13th film. It stars Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine and Mark Ruffalo. In the film, Sarah learns that her father may not be her biological parent and decides to investigate. At the same time, she discovers that her family was the inspiration for the book The Graduate .
You guessed it! Another critical and commercial dud for Reiner.
Hello, darkness. My old friend...
Budget: $70,000,000.
Domestic gross: $43,000,262. ($69.1 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $88,933,562.
The Bucket List (2007)
"Time to start living."
His 14th film. It stars Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes and Rob Morrow, and the main plot follows two terminally ill men on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket".
It received mixed reviews; while Nicholson and Freeman were praised, the film was considered too melodramatic. But Nicholson's and Freeman's presence allowed the film to be a sleeper hit; it earned $175 million worldwide. So it was a much needed win for Reiner.
Budget: $45,000,000.
Domestic gross: $93,466,502. ($141.5 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $175,372,502.
Flipped (2010)
"You never forget your first love."
His 15th film. Based on the novel by Wendelin Van Draanen, it stars Callan McAuliffe, Madeline Carroll, Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney, Penelope Ann Miller, Aidan Quinn, and Kevin Weisman. The film tells the story of two eighth graders who start to have feelings for each other, despite being total opposites.
Aaaand Reiner got back to his flop status.
Budget: $14,000,000.
Domestic gross: $1,755,212. ($2.5 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $4,324,817.
The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)
"A re-coming of age story."
His 16th film. It film stars Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Emma Fuhrmann, Madeline Carroll, Kenan Thompson, Nicolette Pierini, Kevin Pollak and Fred Willard. Monty Wildhorn, an alcoholic novelist of Westerns, has lost his drive. His nephew pushes him to summer in quiet Belle Isle. He begrudgingly befriends a newly single mom and her 3 girls who help him find the inspiration to write again.
It was panned, and was his worst performing film by far.
Budget: $5,000,000.
Domestic gross: $102,388. ($140,059 adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $123,821.
And So It Goes (2014)
"There are a million reasons not to like Oren Little. Just ask everyone."
His 17th film. It stars Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton and Sterling Jerins. Oren is deliberately mean to the people around him. However, he is forced to change his attitude and take help from his neighbour Leah when he is asked to look after his nine-year-old granddaughter.
What's that? Another critical and commercial dud? Shocked. Shocked I tell ya!
Budget: $18,000,000.
Domestic gross: $15,160,801. ($20.1 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $25,419,147.
Being Charlie (2015)
His 18th film. The film stars Nick Robinson, Common, Cary Elwes, Devon Bostick, Morgan Saylor, Susan Misner and Ricardo Chavira. Charlie Mills is addicted to drugs and his father forcefully sends him to a rehab centre. Things get interesting for him when he meets Eva, a drug addict, and falls in love with her.
You thought barely hitting $100,000 was awful? What does "hitting just $30,000" sound then?
Budget: N/A.
Domestic gross: $30,400. ($40,282 adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $32,964.
LBJ (2017)
His 19th film. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins, Bill Pullman, Kim Allen, Michael Stahl-David, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jeffrey Donovan, Doug McKeon, C. Thomas Howell, and Michael Mosley, and follows the beginning of the administration of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson following the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The film was poorly received, and it barely covered 10% of the budget. sigh
Budget: $20,000,000.
Domestic gross: $2,470,979. ($3.1 million adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $2,510,151.
Shock and Awe (2018)
"The truth matters."
His 20th film. The film stars Reiner, Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, James Marsden, Milla Jovovich, and Jessica Biel, and follows a group of journalists at Knight Ridder's Washington Bureau who investigate the rationale behind the Bush Administration's then-impending 2003 invasion of Iraq.
It had a limited release before premiering in DirecTV. Do I even have to say it at this point?
Budget: $15,500,000.
Domestic gross: $77,980. ($97,532 adjusted)
Worldwide gross: $182,415.
The Future
It took decades, but it's official: Spinal Tap II is finally happening after 40 years.
Reiner is directing again, and is co-writing with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, all of whom are also confirmed to return to star. Not much is known about the plot, except that Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Questlove, Trisha Yearwood, Chad Smith, and Lars Ulrich will show up in cameos. Filming is currently underway.
MOVIES (FROM HIGHEST GROSSING TO LEAST GROSSING)
No.
Movie
Year
Studio
Domestic Total
Overseas Total
Worldwide Total
Budget
1
A Few Good Men
1992
Columbia
$141,340,178
$101,900,000
$243,240,178
$33M
2
The Bucket List
2007
Warner Bros.
$93,466,502
$81,906,000
$175,372,502
$45M
3
The American President
1995
Sony / Universal
$60,079,496
$47,800,000
$107,879,496
$60M
4
When Harry Met Sally...
1989
Columbia
$93,117,425
$156,140
$93,274,466
$16M
5
Rumor Has It...
2005
Warner Bros.
$43,000,262
$45,933,300
$88,933,562
$70M
6
Misery
1990
Columbia
$61,276,872
$0
$61,276,872
$18M
7
The Story of Us
1999
Universal / Warner Bros.
$27,100,031
$31,800,000
$58,900,031
$50M
8
Stand by Me
1986
Columbia
$52,287,414
$0
$52,287,414
$8M
9
The Princess Bride
1987
20th Century Fox
$30,857,814
$45,055
$30,959,674
$16M
10
And So It Goes
2014
Freestyle
$15,160,801
$10,258,346
$25,419,147
$18M
11
The Sure Thing
1985
Embassy
$18,135,531
$0
$18,135,531
$4.5M
12
Alex & Emma
2003
Warner Bros.
$14,218,698
$1,150,199
$15,368,897
$30M
13
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996
Sony
$13,323,144
$0
$13,323,144
$36M
14
North
1994
Columbia
$7,182,747
$5,000,000
$12,182,747
$50M
15
This Is Spinal Tap
1984
Embassy
$4,736,202
$0
$4,736,202
$2M
16
Flipped
2010
Warner Bros.
$1,755,212
$2,569,605
$4,324,817
$14M
17
LBJ
2017
Electric
$2,470,979
$39,172
$2,510,151
$20M
18
Shock and Awe
2018
Vertical
$77,980
$104,435
$182,415
$15.5M
19
The Magic of Belle Isle
2012
Magnolia
$102,388
$21,433
$123,821
$5M
20
Being Charlie
2015
Paladin
$30,400
$2,564
$32,964
N/A
Across 20 films, he has made $1,008,464,031 worldwide. That's $50,423,201 per film.
The Verdict
Wasted potential.
Let's just take a moment to stare at where Reiner started. Started simply as "Meathead" in All in the Family , and in a surprising move, chose to focus more on directing films than acting in films or TV shows. That was a bold strategy, Cotton, but it sure paid off. Just look at his first seven films: a music mockumentary, a road film, a coming-of-age film, a fantasy adventure film, a romantic comedy film, a psychological thriller, and a courtroom drama. That's a fantastic range of films, and it's even more impressive that all seven films have achieved a cult classic status, all hailed as among the best films in their respective genres. All popular, all quotable, all influential in some way. That's a streak that any director would kill for. Reiner was clearly on his way to become one of the most important filmmakers of our generation.
And then North happened.
It's weird to point that a film can ruin a filmmaker's career, yet you can tell that when North came around, he simply... lost it. Yes, we had The American President the following year, but it's clear that was the only exception in Reiner's post-1994 career. Reiner failed in replicating anything remotely close to his previous films' reception, with some films not even hitting $1 million worldwide. All had their differences, but they had something in common; none of them were good or barely tolerable. It's like Reiner went on autopilot by the late 90s. Once a reliable filmmaker, it's no wonder no big studio has touched their films in years. Whatever the case, Reiner's glory days have long passed and it's disappointing how he couldn't create more classics like his previous films.
That's also why I want to talk about Spinal Tap II . OP here is a big fan of the original film, deeming it one of the greatest comedies ever made. Yet the idea of a Spinal Tap sequel 40 years later feels weird. One hopes that Christopher Guest wouldn't do something if he didn't think it was worth it, but it could also feel like it's more... desperation than genuine interest? We'll see, but it's best just to have high hopes and very low expectations.
Hope you liked this edition. You can find this and more in the wiki for this section.
The next director will be Sofia Coppola . Our second female director to get a post.
I asked you to choose who else should be in the run and the comment with the most upvotes would be chosen. Well, we'll later talk about... Brian De Palma. He many so many classics in the 70s to the 90s... what the fuck happened to him?
This is the schedule for the following four:
Week
Director
Reasoning
July 8-14
Sofia Coppola
Like father, like daughter.
July 14-21
Christopher Nolan
The one you've been waiting for.
July 21-28
Ron Howard
A very important journeyman.
July 29-August 4
Brian De Palma
What the fuck was up with The Black Dahlia ?
Who should be next after De Palma? That's up to you.
De Palma was in a tight race with Paul Verhoeven and William Friedkin, barely winning. Do you want any of them or someone else?
