---
title: "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story"
year: 2024
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story"
fi1m_id: "super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story"
imdb_id: "tt27902121"
tmdb_id: 1128559
wikidata_id: "Q124460441"
fi1m_score: 80
critics_score: 75
critics_reviews: 15
published: "2026-10-03T03:38:36.862323+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T03:38:43.071898+00:00"
region: "SK"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

Directed by Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui · 1h 44m · Documentary

## Identity

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story
- **IMDb ID:** tt27902121
- **TMDB ID:** 1128559
- **Wikidata ID:** Q124460441
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27902121/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1128559, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124460441

**Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 75 from 15 reviews

*In a sentence:* Christopher Reeve’s children make a stronger case for their father than any amount of stirring music

> Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui make a moving family portrait that allows Christopher Reeve his flaws. The heroic framing is sometimes too insistent, but the archive and his children’s memories give the admiration substance.

## Synopsis

Christopher Reeve appears in archive footage as his son Will Reeve and daughter Alexandra Reeve Givens help tell the story of their father. Home videos and scenes from his films sit alongside recollections from family and friends, with Gae Exton, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg among the contributors. The documentary connects his acting career with the recovery and disability advocacy that follow his accident. As he works towards recovery, the people close to him describe the family relationships behind his public life. Their memories bring his flaws into the account alongside his determination.

## Review

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* is a moving family portrait, with a tendency to press its admiration harder than necessary. Directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui are most persuasive when they let the people close to Christopher Reeve describe him. Those recollections make room for flaws as well as courage. The film is worth seeing, although its insistence on being inspirational occasionally gets in the way of the people speaking.

The useful decision is to connect the life before the accident with the life after it, rather than treat them as separate biographies. Otto Burnham’s nonlinear editing brings the home videos, film scenes and interviews together without turning the chronology into a puzzle. Public recognition and private relationships remain in view together. That matters because a story of recovery can too easily reduce everything that came before it to preparation for the injury.

We were moved by his son Will Reeve and his daughter Alexandra Reeve Givens remembering their father. Their affection is clear, but the documentary also allows his flaws into the account, which makes that affection more convincing. The children have a different reason for valuing him from an audience familiar with his acting, and the film gives that distinction proper attention. Their contributions keep the private relationships in view alongside the public achievements.

Will Pugh, Brett Wiley and Bryan Twz Brousseau share the cinematography credit, but the images that matter most are the home videos. Those recordings give the family testimony something concrete to work with, rather than leaving the contributors to carry the entire film in words. The new photography does its job without competing with that material. There is pleasure in seeing an archive used to establish relationships, rather than merely to confirm that its subject was once young and famous.

Ilan Eshkeri’s music is less persuasive. The film has enough feeling in its archive and interviews without needing quite so much encouragement to respond, and the score contributes to that pressure. The title has already suggested the heroic comparison; the testimony does not require it to be underlined. This is a modest complaint, but it becomes noticeable when the family material has been so effective on its own.

As a celebrity documentary, it benefits from giving substantial attention to life outside the acting career. The account of recovery and advocacy matters, but so does the attention to what other people contribute. The directors allow those people to be part of the story rather than simply witnesses to someone else’s courage. We would have welcomed more room for their recollections whenever the larger message of perseverance begins to repeat itself.

At 104 minutes, this is a reasonably compact introduction rather than an exhaustive biography. Its warmth is earned chiefly by the archive and by people with something personal to remember. Watch it for those voices, and be prepared to forgive the music for not trusting them quite enough.

*Fi1m score 80, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story moving and hopeful, with praise clustering around its intimate family testimony and use of archive footage. The reviews repeatedly credit candid memories with revealing Reeve’s flaws alongside his resilience, giving the portrait more substance than a straightforward tribute. Several also praise the editing and the combination of home videos, interviews and film scenes, which connect his acting career, recovery and disability activism without neglecting those closest to him.

The spread is wide, though approval dominates and outright rejection is rare. The Wrap offers a qualification: much of the emotional force comes from Reeve’s life story itself, rather than how the documentary tells it. Eye for Film is the sharp dissenter, finding the construction capable but the film repetitive, unengaging and short on insight. The central disagreement is whether its intimate material provides enough depth, not whether Reeve’s story merits attention.

## Straight answers

**Is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story worth watching?**

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* is worth watching for its moving family portrait, and we score it 80 out of 100. We recommend it especially to viewers interested in the relationships behind Reeve’s public life: his children’s memories allow for flaws as well as courage, though the stirring music and insistent heroic framing sometimes overstate what their testimony already makes clear.

**How long is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, and what is it rated?**

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* runs 1h 44m. It is a documentary film.

**Where can I watch Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story in Slovakia?**

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* is not on any streaming or rental service in Slovakia at the moment. It is available in 33 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, and is it suitable for children?**

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* has a UK 12A certificate, meaning children under 12 need an accompanying adult at the cinema. Its account of Reeve’s accident, recovery and disability advocacy gives families emotionally difficult subjects to consider; we would not treat it as automatically suitable for younger children. The certificate alone does not establish how graphic or frightening particular moments are.

**How does Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story compare to STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie?**

*Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story* offers a moving family portrait, while [*STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie*](https://film.one/film/still-a-michael-j-fox-movie) gives its subject more room for humour and candour. We favour *STILL* for viewers who prefer livelier editing and less insistent admiration, although it leaves some harder questions unasked. *Super/Man* is the better fit for those drawn to children’s memories and the relationships behind a public life.

**What should I watch after Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story?**

After *Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story*, try [*Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie*](https://film.one/film/still-a-michael-j-fox-movie) (2023, Fi1m 80): Another actor’s account of disability, with humour allowed to interrupt the admiration. Then [*Stories We Tell*](https://film.one/film/stories-we-tell) (2012, Fi1m 77): Family memories and home footage raise questions about who gets to tell the story; and [*My Left Foot*](https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown) (1989, Fi1m 85): A disability biography with room for talent, dependence, anger and bad behaviour.

### Reviews we read (15)

- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (85/100, inferred): Rooney finds the documentary deeply affecting and ultimately hopeful despite its central tragedies. He singles out its intimate family testimony and graceful editing for illuminating Reeve’s resilience and activism. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1235802955/)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): The critic calls the documentary moving, compelling, and superbly made. He singles out its intimate account of Reeve’s recovery and the loving support of Dana Morosini for particular praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1235881449/)
- **IndieWire**, Siddhant Adlakha (B+): Adlakha praises the documentary as a moving, nuanced portrait that avoids both hagiography and cheap inspiration. He singles out its inventive use of Reeve’s home videos, interviews, and film scenes to illuminate his life and the people close to him. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1234946751/)
- **Empire**, Iana Murray (80/100, inferred): Murray finds the documentary comprehensive, life-affirming, and a fitting tribute to Reeve. She praises its honest balance of joy and tragedy, including its attention to his flaws. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story/)
- **Time Out**, Ed Gibbs (4/5): The critic describes the documentary as a rich and moving experience. They praise it as the superhero documentary Christopher Reeve deserves. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-2024)
- **Total Film**, James Mottram (4/5): Mottram calls the documentary a moving, engrossing portrait of a true-life hero. He especially praises the archive footage and Reeve’s courage after his accident. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/documentaries/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review/)
- **Screen Daily**, Amber Wilkinson (75/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the documentary increasingly moving. She singles out its dialogue with Reeve, the late actor and disability advocate. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/super/man-the-christopher-reeve-story-sundance-review/5189664.article)
- **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall (70/100, inferred): The headline presents the documentary as a life-affirming portrait of a real-life hero. The description singles out its moving account of Christopher Reeve’s rise to global recognition. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/super-man-christopher-reeve-story-review/)
- **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The URL identifies this as a review of the film, but the page content is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/movies/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review.html)
- **The Guardian**, Xan Brooks (3/5): Brooks finds the documentary respectful and effective in presenting Reeve as a whole person. He praises how it connects Reeve’s pre- and post-accident life to reveal the courage and resilience he embodied. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/03/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-respectful-documentary-gives-the-full-picture)
- **/Film**, Bill Bria (10/10): The critic calls it a profoundly moving, powerful, and inspiring documentary that avoids hagiography. They praise its inventive visual metaphor for Reeve’s struggles and its tender attention to his family. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1502485/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (8/10): Bonaime calls the documentary powerful, moving, and emotionally compelling. He praises its nonlinear editing and its candid, tender focus on Reeve’s family and friendship with Robin Williams. [Read](https://collider.com/super-man-christopher-reeve-story-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4/5): The review finds the documentary moving, honest, and ultimately truthful in its tribute to Reeve. It praises the family’s candid memories for revealing the complicated man behind the Superman icon. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/super-man-review-christopher-reeve-documentary-makes-you-believe-still/)
- **The Wrap** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the documentary emotional, resilient and inspiring, though its impact depends heavily on Reeve’s compelling life story. They praise its broad portrait of the Reeve family’s courage and perseverance. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/christopher-reeve-super-man-review-disabled-superman/)
- **Eye for Film**, Andrew Robertson (25/100, inferred): The critic finds the documentary unengaging and overly repetitive. They praise its capable construction but fault its lack of insight and depth. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-2024-film-review-by-andrew-robertson)

## Details

- **Director:** Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
- **Director:** Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
- **Writer:** Peter Ettedgui
- **Cinematography:** Brett Wiley, Bryan Twz Brousseau, Will Pugh
- **Editor:** Otto Burnham
- **Music:** Ilan Eshkeri
- **Producer:** Robert Ford, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte
- **Cast:** Christopher Reeve as Self (archive footage); Will Reeve as Self - Christopher's Son; Alexandra Reeve Givens as Self - Christopher's Daughter; Gae Exton as Self; Glenn Close as Self; Jeff Daniels as Self; Whoopi Goldberg as Self; Steven Kirshblum as Self
- **Runtime:** 1h 44m
- **First release (the US):** 21 January 2024
- **Genres:** Documentary
- **Box office:** $89,388
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX-B3HMlMfY

## Where to watch in Slovakia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Slovakia at the last check.

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, IE, IL, IN, IT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RS, SE, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie* (2023), Fi1m 80: Another actor’s account of disability, with humour allowed to interrupt the admiration. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/still-a-michael-j-fox-movie.md)
- *Crip Camp* (2020): Widen the focus from one famous advocate to disabled people organising together.
- *Stories We Tell* (2012), Fi1m 77: Family memories and home footage raise questions about who gets to tell the story. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/stories-we-tell.md)
- *My Left Foot* (1989), Fi1m 85: A disability biography with room for talent, dependence, anger and bad behaviour. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-left-foot-the-story-of-christy-brown.md)
- *The Diving Bell and the Butterfly* (2007), Fi1m 87: A drama that stays close to the daily effort of communicating after paralysis. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-diving-bell-and-the-butterfly.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story