Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story parents guide

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Parent Guide

Powerful and poignant, this film documents the life of Christopher Reeve and his drive to continue to make a difference after his life-altering accident.

Overall A-

HBO: This documentary explores the life of Christopher Reeve, the actor famous for playing Super Man, and the contributions he made after being paralyzed in an accident.

Release date December 7, 2024

Violence A-
Sexual Content A
Profanity D
Substance Use B

Why is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story PG-13 for some strong language and thematic elements

Run Time: 104 minutes

Parent Movie Review

It was an accident that shocked the world. In 1995, a fall from a horse snapped Christopher Reeve’s neck, leaving him a quadriplegic, unable to move or even breathe on his own. In any context, this would be a tragedy, but the bitter irony that the man famous for playing Superman would never walk again gave the story extra weight.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a powerful film that unsparingly documents the challenges faced by the actor, pilot, sailor, skier and father who could no longer do everything that enriched his life. It’s a story of pain, loss, courage, and resilience. It’s also a portrait of an incredibly strong marriage that’s held together by devotion and commitment.

Bouncing across the timeline of Christopher Reeve’s life, the film explores the manner in which commitment becomes a key part of his character. Marked by an unstable childhood with divorced, hostile parents; famous in his early 20s; and out of his first relationship in under a decade, Reeve knew that he struggled with commitment. Then he met Dana, who he eventually married. But it was after the accident that Reeve knew he would either die or make a commitment to living and finding a way to make a difference in the world. This movie is about how he did so, directing and acting in further films, becoming involved in political activism, and fundraising to invest money in spinal cord research. In 2009, those efforts bore visible fruit when President Obama enacted The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, bringing federal money into funding research and lifestyle support for paralyzed Americans.

More poignantly, this documentary explores Reeve’s family relationships. His wife, Dana, and their son, Will, as well as his children, Matthew and Alexandra, from a prior relationship with Gae Exton, all come together to support Reeve and each other. Their words (and his) about the power of family are the most moving in the film - and left me in tears. Even discussing the film afterwards brought on the waterworks again.

If you are looking for an inspiring, uplifting film that promotes messages of courage, persistence, selflessness, and love, you can’t go wrong with Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. There are a few content issues, principally three sexual expletives and another dozen swear words, but those are overshadowed by the positive nature of the rest of the movie. Not only is it suitable for teens, but it will probably do them some good. And as for those of us old enough to remember Reeve’s career, this film serves as a fitting farewell to a man who became a hero both on and off the screen.

Directed by Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui. Starring Christopher Reeve, Dana Reeve, Will Reeve, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Matthew Reeve, Gae Exton. Running time: 104 minutes. Theatrical release December 7, 2024. Updated

Watch the trailer for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Rating & Content Info

Why is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story rated PG-13? Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some strong language and thematic elements

Violence: An equestrian accident that leads to paralysis is a core element of the movie. A clip from a film shows a scene of attempted strangulation.
Sexual Content:   None noted.
Profanity: The film contains three sexual expletives, plus a dozen mild profanities and scatological curses.
Alcohol / Drug Use:   Adults are seen drinking alcohol at a social event.

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Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story Parents' Guide

Christopher Reeve had an unstable childhood thanks to his parents’ divorces, but he repeated the same behavior when he left his first partner. Why do we sometimes repeat the patterns we see when we are growing up, even if we recognize that those behaviors are unhelpful?

What do Christopher, Dana, and Gae do to put their children first? How does the family rally around Christopher after the accident?

Christopher’s mother wants to turn off the life support after the accident. Why do you think she would feel that way? Dana gives Christopher the choice, but promises her love and support. What does she say that tips the scales for his decision?

For more information about fundraising and spinal cord research funded through the foundation, you can go to christopherreeve.org.

 

Home Video

Related home video titles:

Christopher Reeve directed The Brooke Ellison Story, a film about a young girl paralyzed in a car accident.

A new generation of people paralyzed by spinal cord injuries have benefited from the research that has taken place since Christopher Reeve’s accident. 7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story is a documentary about a young man, paralyzed during a football game, who wanted to be able to walk down the aisle at his wedding.

Breathe is based on the real life story of Robin Cavendish and his wife, Diana. Paralyzed by polio, Robin wishes to die but Diana is determined he will live and make a contribution to the world. Working together, they initiate major changes in the care of paralyzed patients.

When a freak holiday accident leaves Sam Bloom paralyzed from the mid-back down, she despairs over her changed life and new limitations. Penguin Bloom tells the true story of how an orphaned baby magpie helps her recover and find a new normal.

The fictional story Me Before You tells the story of Will, whose successful high-flying life was derailed when he was paralyzed in an accident. Bitter and depressed, his life only starts to change when the effervescent Lou is hired as his caregiver.