Everyone remembers Christopher Reeve as Superman.
But what happened after the cape is even more super-human.
Trailer for “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Robin Williams disguised himself as a proctologist and burst into Reeve’s hospital room after the accident, making him laugh for the first time since being paralyzed.
- Reeve made a shocking Academy Awards appearance in 1996. He rolled on stage in a wheelchair to a standing ovation and used his speech to call out Hollywood for ignoring people with disabilities.
- Despite being unable to breathe on his own, Reeve pushed doctors and scientists so hard that labs called his effect the “Reeve factor”. He changed the trajectory of spinal cord research by sheer force of will.
Watch “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”
You can stream “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” on HBO Max and Prime Video. Check the latest streaming options on JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 96/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 98/100 (Users); 98/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui (with writer Otto Burnham). They previously made “McQueen” (about designer Alexander McQueen), another doc that blends personal triumph and tragedy.
Release Date: 2024 (premiered at Sundance; streaming later on HBO Max and Prime Video).
My Review of “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story”
The Setup
This 104-minute doc covers Christopher Reeve’s whole arc: Juilliard student alongside Robin Williams, breakout star as Superman in 1978, his near-death horse accident in 1995, and his second life as an activist who raised hundreds of millions for spinal cord injury research.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Archival footage of a young Reeve at Juilliard with his roommate Robin Williams shows their odd-couple dynamic. Williams was wild and manic, Reeve serious and disciplined.
- The doc revisits the 1978 release of “Superman,” when Reeve became an overnight global star despite being a relative unknown.
- His wife Dana became his anchor after the accident, famously telling him, “You’re still you. And I love you.” That moment kept him from pulling the plug on life support.
- Reeve lobbied Congress, met world leaders, and started the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which to this day funds research into spinal cord injuries.
- The film shows his role as a father, with powerful interviews from his children (Will, Matthew, and Alexandra Reeve Givens).
Cameos
- Robin Williams appears in archival clips and through friends’ recollections—his friendship with Reeve is a recurring theme.
- Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg share memories of how Reeve inspired Hollywood to take disability rights seriously.
- Reeve’s son Will Reeve (now an ESPN journalist) reflects on growing up in the shadow of Superman and his dad’s activism.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Reeve’s accident happened during an equestrian event in Culpeper, Virginia. His horse, Buck, refused a jump, throwing him headfirst into the ground.
- The Reeve Foundation’s early fundraisers included Broadway cast reunions, Hollywood galas, and even phone banks staffed by A-list stars.
- Reeve experimented with new breathing technology that allowed him to reduce his dependence on a ventilator, part of his relentless push to live fully.
- Doctors initially gave him a year to live. He survived nearly a decade, reshaping public perception of paralysis along the way.
Wrap Up
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is a story of how one man went from Hollywood icon to global activist. It’ll leave you crying, then standing taller.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc