Meg Ryan’s performance in the crowded deli remains one of the most famous comedic sequences in cinema history. The punchline, delivered by Rob Reiner’s mother— "I’ll have what she’s having" —is arguably the greatest one-liner in film.
What truly sets apart from its predecessors is the use of "interview" clips. Scattered throughout the film are cutaways to elderly couples—actual real-life married pairs—sitting on a bench, talking about how they met.
Harry's cynical, biological view contrasts sharply with Sally’s idealistic, structured approach to life. By forcing these two opposites into a long-term friendship, Ephron’s script explores the vulnerability required to transition from confidants to lovers. The film suggests that the strongest romances are built on a foundation of shared history, mutual flaws, and genuine companionship. Why It Endures When Harry Met Sally 1989
The scene was a risk, and even the cast and crew felt its awkwardness. Reiner himself had to perform the orgasm for Meg Ryan to show her what he wanted, which he later recalled was mortifying to do in front of his own mother. However, the risk paid off spectacularly. The scene became a cultural phenomenon, widely parodied in everything from The Office to Family Guy . More importantly, it represented a new level of candor in mainstream cinema, openly discussing female pleasure in a way that few films had dared to do. It made "faking it" a topic of public conversation and cemented the film's reputation as a bold, boundary-pushing comedy.
The film unfolds like a quiet, accidental waltz. We meet Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) as fresh-faced college graduates sharing a drive from Chicago to New York. Harry is a cynical, messy pragmatist; Sally is an organized, high-maintenance optimist who orders pie “a la mode” with the ice cream on the side. They clash instantly. Harry infamously declares his theory that men and women can’t be friends because “the sex part always gets in the way.” Meg Ryan’s performance in the crowded deli remains
As Harry and Sally navigate their respective relationships, they can't help but feel a pang of jealousy and longing for each other. They begin to question whether they've made mistakes in their choices and whether their connection is something special.
Now both single and nursing broken hearts, they meet in a bookstore. They finally form the platonic friendship they once deemed impossible. Scattered throughout the film are cutaways to elderly
The influence of When Harry Met Sally... can be felt in virtually every romantic comedy produced since 1989. It paved the way for films like Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Notting Hill (1999), and 500 Days of Summer (2009). It shifted the genre away from fantastical plot devices and anchored it in the everyday anxieties of modern dating.
The chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan is often cited as one of the best in cinema history.
When Harry Met Sally (1989): The Definitive Rom-Com That Redefined Modern Love