--- title: "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 15 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): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 15 reviews: 12 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. 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. ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2024. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1235802955/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 23 January 2024. Festival review. 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 the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1235881449/) ## IndieWire — Siddhant Adlakha Rating B+. 22 January 2024. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-1234946751/) ## Empire — Iana Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story/) ## Time Out — Ed Gibbs Rating 4/5. 26 January 2024. Festival review. The critic describes the documentary as a rich and moving experience. They praise it as the superhero documentary Christopher Reeve deserves. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-2024) ## Total Film — James Mottram Rating 4/5. 7 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/documentaries/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review/) ## Screen Daily — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2024. Festival review. Wilkinson finds the documentary increasingly moving. She singles out its dialogue with Reeve, the late actor and disability advocate. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/super/man-the-christopher-reeve-story-sundance-review/5189664.article) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2024. 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 the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/super-man-christopher-reeve-story-review/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2024. 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 the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/movies/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story-review.html) ## The Guardian — Xan Brooks Rating 3/5. 3 November 2024. 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 the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/nov/03/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review-respectful-documentary-gives-the-full-picture) ## /Film — Bill Bria Rating 10/10. 26 January 2024. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1502485/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-review/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 8/10. 22 January 2024. 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 the review](https://collider.com/super-man-christopher-reeve-story-review/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 18 September 2024. 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 the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/super-man-review-christopher-reeve-documentary-makes-you-believe-still/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2024. Festival review. 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 the review](https://www.thewrap.com/christopher-reeve-super-man-review-disabled-superman/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2024. The critic finds the documentary unengaging and overly repetitive. They praise its capable construction but fault its lack of insight and depth. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story-2024-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/super-man-the-christopher-reeve-story.md