Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a 2024 documentary film about the life of American actor Christopher Reeve following his horse riding accident that left him paralyzed and him subsequently becoming an activist for disability rights.[5][6][7] The documentary was directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who co-wrote the script with Otto Burnham, and is titled after Reeve's role of Superman from the 1978–1987 Superman films.[3][8]
| Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story | |
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| Starring | Christopher Reeve |
| Cinematography | Brett Wiley |
| Edited by | Otto Burnham |
| Music by | Ilan Eshkeri |
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Running time | 104 minutes[1] |
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| Language | English |
A British-American venture, the film is a co-production by Words+Pictures, Passion Pictures, and Misfits Entertainment in association with Jenco Films, and was acquired for distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films, and the streaming service Max.[1][3] Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story premiered on January 19, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival,[9] and is scheduled to receive a limited theatrical release in collaboration with Fathom Events in the United States on September 21 and 25, 2024.[4]
Release
editSuper/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story held its world premiere at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, United States for the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024, with a post-screening Q&A session with the film's directors and Reeve's children.[9] The following month, DC Comics owner Warner Bros. Discovery acquired the worldwide theatrical and home media release rights to the documentary for $15 million, and worked with DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran and its corporate siblings Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Documentary Films, CNN Films, and the streaming service Max to do so.[8][10] The sale was represented by film financing company Cinetic Media.[8][3]
At the April 2024 CinemaCon, Safran announced that the documentary would be theatrically released in September 2024, under the WBP, DC Studios, HBO, and CNN labels.[2] The following month, the documentary was announced to be screened for a limited theatrical release on September 21 and 25, 2024, in collaboration with Fathom Events, although there was potential for a wide release. The release is set to be followed by an encore presentation on September 25, 2024, which would have been Reeve's 72nd birthday.[4] The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures.[11]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 21 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.4/10.[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 from 10 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[13]
Screen Daily film critic Amber Wilkinson wrote, "The life and work of Superman star Christopher Reeve is framed and largely recounted by his family and friends in Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgui's increasingly moving documentary."[1] Monica Castillo of RogerEbert.com described it as "Easily my big festival cry, something that moves you so deeply that the combination of sleep deprivation, altitude, and the movie's subject makes it almost impossible not to get emotional."[14]
Notes
edit- ^ Also distributed through Warner Bros.' DC Studios, HBO Documentary Films, and CNN Films[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Wilkinson, Amber (January 22, 2024). "'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story': Sundance Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 9, 2024). "'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' To Hit Theaters In September – CinemaCon". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Gonzalez, Umberto (February 2, 2024). "Christopher Reeve Documentary 'Super/Man' Acquired for $15 Million by Warner Bros. Discovery". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c Rubin, Rebecca (May 20, 2024). "Christopher Reeve Documentary 'Super/Man' Sets Theatrical Release for Two Days Only". Variety. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ Carey, Matthew (January 22, 2024). "Christopher Reeve's Children "Bear Their Soul On Screen" In Touching Documentary 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' – Sundance Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Lang, Brent; Rubin, Rebecca (January 27, 2024). "Christopher Reeve Documentary 'Super/Man' Selling to Warner Bros. Discovery for Roughly $15 Million After Sundance Premiere". Variety. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Marisa (January 23, 2024). "Why the New Christopher Reeve Doc Moved the Sundance Audience to Tears". People. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c Grobar, Matt (February 2, 2024). "Warner Bros. Discovery Finalizes Deal For Buzzy Sundance Doc 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Johnson, Lottie Elizabeth (January 22, 2024). "'He harnessed the power of Superman': Christopher Reeve's real-life heroism unfolds at Sundance". Deseret News. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Migalla, Sean (February 2, 2024). "James Gunn Gushes About Emotional Christopher Reeve Documentary Super/Man After It's Acquired by WBD". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ Baker, Neil (June 24, 2024). "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story arrives in cinemas Nov 1". Cinerama Film UK. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
- ^ "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Castillo, Monica (January 25, 2024). "Sundance 2024: Sue Bird: In the Clutch, Luther: Never Too Much, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
