Rob Reiner’s Film & TV Soundtracks That Made the Billboard 200: Full List

Rob Reiner’s shocking death on Sunday (Dec. 14) has triggered a wave of appreciations for his work, both as an actor and a film director. One thing that hasn’t been mentioned enough is that he, more than most film directors, made excellent use of music. Four of his first five films as a director had soundtracks that made the Billboard 200 album chart. One went double-platinum and won a Grammy; another went gold and sent its title song back into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reiner received a Grammy nomination for the All in the Family soundtrack (best comedy recording, 1972), an Oscar nomination for best picture (A Few Good Men, 1992) and seven Primetime Emmy nods – five for All in the Family (outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series) and two for the HBO Max show Albert Brooks: Defending My Life – outstanding documentary or nonfiction special and outstanding directing for a documentary/nonfiction program.

Reiner directed three actors to Oscar nominations – Kathy Bates in Misery (who won). Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men and James Woods in Ghosts of Mississippi.

It’s too bad Reiner didn’t receive the Kennedy Center Honors. His long and varied career justified the honor. President Trump said earlier this year that he reviewed a list of about 50 candidates, most of which he rejected because they were too “woke.” If the decision had been made purely on the basis of who was the most deserving (imagine that!), Reiner might well have gotten it.

Here’s a list of Rob Reiner’s film and TV soundtracks that made the Billboard 200.