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<\/a><\/p>\nThe name Christopher Reeve will be forever associated with his iconic role as Clark Kent\/Superman in the Superman film series, portraying the character from the 1978 original through to 1987\u2019s The Quest for Peace, totalling four movies. His wholesome appearance, along with a heroic charisma, has defined Superman for generations, even today with the likes of Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill and David Corenswet taking over the role to varying degrees of success.<\/p>\n
But apart from his Superman role, Reeve proved himself to be a versatile actor capable of transitioning between genres from the crime thriller to romance drama, and even comedy. His acting career may have tragically suffered a setback after an equestrian competition in Virginia went wrong, resulting in him being paralyzed and having to rely on a wheelchair and a ventilator, and although he passed away at the age of 52 in 2004, his legacy still lives on. And if you are planning to revisit or even watch some of his movies for the first time, here is our curated list of the essential Christopher Reeve movies beyond Superman\u2026<\/p>\n
Street Smart (1987)<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s an interesting trivia about Street Smart: Cannon Films apparently agreed to greenlight Christopher Reeve\u2019s pet project if he appeared in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. No prize for guessing which movie emerges the best in terms of quality. Reeve plays Jonathan Fisher, a struggling reporter willing to break his journalistic integrity by fabricating a story. The story in question is an article about a \u201creal-life\u201d pimp, a result that may have burst into popularity before it gets worse for Fisher. This is especially true after the story somehow matches with Fast Black (Morgan Freeman), an actual pimp who recently ran into trouble for involuntary manslaughter.<\/p>\n Reeve\u2019s morally conflicted role in Street Smart showcases his dramatic flair, easily one of the best performances in his career. His character contrasts well with Freeman\u2019s Fast Black, whose frighteningly volatile portrayal as a pimp earned him a much-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Kudos also goes to Jerry Schatzberg\u2019s assured direction for highlighting the solid dynamic between Reeve and Freeman, one of the few hallmarks which define this propulsive crime thriller.<\/p>\n Somewhere in Time (1980)<\/p>\n In 1978, Christopher Reeve was on top of the world, making us \u201cbelieve a man can fly\u201d in a then-groundbreaking Superman. He could have ridden on that success alone, but Reeve proved he could play a romantic lead as seen in Somewhere in Time. Based on Richard Matheson\u2019s novel Bid Time Return, the author himself adapted the screenplay about Richard (Reeve), a playwright who is increasingly obsessed with the vintage photograph of Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), a stage actress from the early 20th century, while staying at the Grand Hotel.<\/p>\n Proving that love can transcend time both literally and figuratively, Somewhere in Time effectively blends an old-fashioned romantic drama with a sci-fi undertone. The latter is especially true with the time travel element, but instead of a machine typically seen in such a genre, Richard goes back to 1912 through the power of self-hypnosis, where everything from clothes to items like coins must be appropriate to the particular era.<\/p>\n The movie benefits from Reeve\u2019s memorable on-screen chemistry with Seymour, highlighting their romance that is both passionate and heartfelt. It also helps that Jeannot Szwarc\u2019s direction brings a melancholic quality to the movie from the beginning to the bittersweet end, coupled with John Barry\u2019s beautiful score and Isidore Mankofsky\u2019s era-specific cinematography.<\/p>\n Deathtrap (1982)<\/p>\n Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon may headline Deathtrap, a chamber mystery that takes place in the confines of a home, but the movie is also notable for Christopher Reeve as Clifford, an ambitious student who shows up at struggling playwright Sidney Bruhl\u2019s (Caine) front door after the latter invites him to discuss some input about his manuscript. The good news is that the manuscript reads like a goldmine, which can potentially revive Sidney\u2019s dwindling career. But why let Clifford take the credit when Sidney can claim the manuscript as his own? And to do that, he and his wife, Myra (Dyan Cannon) must do the unthinkable: Kill Clifford since he hasn\u2019t told anyone else about the play.<\/p>\n This is where it gets interesting, as Sidney Lumet \u2013 adapted from Ira Levin\u2019s 1978 play of the same name \u2014 gamely uses the single-location setting to his advantage, mixing a twist-filled mystery with excellent character interplay. In other words, he brings out the best in three of his principal cast. And while Caine excels the most in his neurotic lead performance as Sidney Bruhl, Deathtrap equally excels with Reeve\u2019s acting prowess, showcasing his versatility in playing the role of a calculating playwright who seamlessly alternates between dark comedy and dramatic turns.<\/p>\n Rear Window (1998)<\/p>\n Remaking Alfred Hitchcock\u2019s 1954 voyeuristic thriller classic may seem like an uphill task, but director Jeff Bleckner, along with screenwriters Eric Overmyer and Larry Gross, managed to do better than expected with in their 1998 version of Rear Window. Don\u2019t let the made-for-television film fool you, though, especially with Christopher Reeve anchoring the performance as the wheelchair-bound architect confined to his apartment following a near-fatal accident.<\/p>\n The fact that Reeve was a real-life quadriplegic after the horse-riding accident disabled him from the neck down helps to add authenticity and poignancy to his role, where you can\u2019t help but root for his character\u2019s predicament. Reeve\u2019s physical limitations meant he had to rely heavily on his eyes and expressions to do the acting. It may come across as an artistic challenge for a disabled or even able-bodied actor, but Reeve managed to pull it off admirably in Rear Window. The movie is equally suspenseful, particularly during the thrilling second half, including a scene where Reeve\u2019s character threatens the alleged killer (Ritchie Coster) on the opposite side of the building using emails.<\/p>\n Above Suspicion (1995)<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an underrated HBO film that premiered just six days before Christopher Reeve\u2019s ill-fated horse-riding accident turned him into a quadriplegic. Ironically, Above Suspicion eerily mirrors the actor\u2019s real-life incident with his character, a highly decorated police detective who becomes paralyzed after a botched raid, leaving him bound in a wheelchair. The movie boasts solid supporting roles, including Joe Mantegna as his rival cop and Kim Cattrall as the cheating wife.<\/p>\n But it was Reeve\u2019s quietly manipulative performance that elevates this neo-noir thriller, complete with a crafty stretch when Reeve\u2019s character orchestrates his own death by roping in his wife and his cop brother (Edward Kerr) to help him fulfill his wish because he\u2019s no longer wanted to live in a wheelchair.<\/p>\n Switching Channels (1988)<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Street-Smart-600x338.jpg\" "\\"")
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