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There are few characters in all of fiction, let alone superhero media, who are as recognizable and beloved as Superman. Superman, arguably the first Western character to fully embody the archetype we consider a “superhero,” has been a part of pop culture since 1938. And for the past 46 years, Superman has often been associated in the minds of many. fans with actor Christopher Reeve, who played the Man of Steel in his first feature film, along with three sequels.

Now, Reeve is being honored in a documentary titled Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story which explores his life before and after the fateful accident that left him paralyzed, paying special attention to his partnership with his wife and caregiver Dana Reeve, as well as his lasting legacy as the Man of Steel.

Reeve’s Superman legacy is so powerful that his film is known in creative comics circles for inspiring the imaginations (and careers) of numerous top writers and artists, as well as filmmakers. Superman was a great inspiration for the president of Marvel Studios Kevin FeigeFor example, he ended up pursuing a film career as an intern for the film’s director Richard Donner, learning the ins and outs of superhero movie storytelling that would eventually lead to the formation of Marvel Studios, which in turn revolutionized what movies can be. superhero movies.

Geoff Johns, who brought Reeve’s Superman to comics with artist Gary Frank in the Superman: Secret Origin story, also served as Donner’s intern alongside Feige, meaning Reeve’s Superman has had a direct influence on shaping of how we view modern superhero storytelling in media over the last few years. several decades.

Reeve’s portrayal of Kal-El is still considered the most iconic live-action depiction of Superman and, in many ways, the one to which all subsequent versions of Superman have been compared, not only in the films, but also in television, and even in its original version. medium of comics. And while production continues, the director James Gunnthe next Superman reboot movieComparisons have inevitably turned to how new Superman actor David Corenswet could be compared to Reeve, whose Superman is considered one of the greatest and most formative superhero film performances of all time.

“I think our dad did an incredible job playing the role in that vision. I think this new movie is something unique. And you know, reintroducing the character to a whole new generation,” Reeve’s son Matthew tells GamesRadar+ about the next reboot. “But I think our father’s performance stood the test of time. He remains, in many ways, the benchmark for bringing this reality to a comic book character who, hopefully, in some way, continues to inspire this film and others.” future films. cinema.”

What really makes Christopher Reeve and his portrayal of Superman so beloved and so inspiring to the very foundations of Superman as a modern character and, indeed, to the modern concept of superheroes and superhero movies?

A lot of it comes down to how great Reeve looks in the role. His dark, curly hair, piercing blue eyes, and sculpted chin combine with the movie-perfect suit to encapsulate decades of Superman stories featuring different versions of the Man of Steel into a visual incarnation of the hero that feels like he’s practically jumping off the comic page.

Reeve’s youthful beauty and towering 6’4″ stature exude a kind of gentle but unwavering Superman-like masculinity that plays directly against the contemporary late ’70s action movie archetype of violent protagonists who revel in machismo. toxic like Dirty Harry and Death Wish’s Paul as a character.

This contrasts somewhat with the character’s previous best-known live-action portrayal in the 1950s television show The Adventures of Superman, in which the coincidentally named actor George Reeves plays the Man of Steel as a sterner father figure. , tough but fair, and his alter ego Clark Kent as a generally straightforward (if occasionally hapless) reporter. There’s a strange cold streak at times in this version of Superman where he’s as good at threatening his enemies as he is at comforting those in need. This is often reflected in the comics of the era, in which Superman is just as likely to embark on a bizarre revenge plot as he is to save the world.

On the other hand, Reeve’s wrinkled, stumbling Clark Kent is the key to the true beauty of his dual performance as a man who could easily tower above human beings, but prefers to live among them. Reeve’s Superman is almost never threatening; He is often direct and always confident, but he wields his strength with a measured hand, paying deliberate attention to the fragile world around him and leading with compassion above all.

Reeve’s Superman has become emblematic of both a great superhero performance in a movie and a vision of how Superman has come to be a hero in the nearly 50 years since Reeve first made us believe that a man could fly. . His portrayal of a kinder, stronger, more confident Superman has become the benchmark for the broader depiction of the Man of Steel as a hero who embodies the fantasy that someone with tremendous power can wield it forever, while He stays grounded with an “Aw shucks” kindness that lets everyone know they are safe in his hands.

Will David Corenswet’s Superman live up to Reeve’s formative version? It is a difficult but natural bar to set. Perhaps the better question is: How will Corenswet find a way to bring Superman into the modern cinematic landscape while also embodying the qualities that make the character so timeless, as Christopher Reeve was definitely able to do?

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story opens in UK cinemas on November 1. Meanwhile, James Gunn’s Superman reboot, starring David Corenswet, is set for release in July 2025.

For everything coming to the big and small screen, check out our list of the most interesting. upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond, or jump right into the good stuff with our full list of movie release dates.