A new documentary now streaming on Netflix offers an unprecedented look inside one of the world's most revered publications as it marks a monumental milestone. 'The New Yorker at 100', directed by Marshall Curry, celebrates the magazine's centenary by exploring its history, its unique creative process, and its enduring influence in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Peering Behind the Curtain of a Media Giant
For director Marshall Curry, the project presented a unique challenge. He is known for advising aspiring documentarians that some stories are better suited to a New Yorker article than a film. Yet, he found himself tackling a 90-minute feature about the magazine itself, a task he likens to making a film about America. The documentary crew spent a year embedded with the magazine, delving into its vast archives, sitting in on production meetings, and shadowing its legendary staff.
The film features intimate access to editor David Remnick, who has led the publication for over two decades, and art editor Françoise Mouly as she conceptualises the cover for the landmark February 2025 centennial issue. Curry hoped to capture the frantic energy of a deadline-driven newsroom but discovered a culture of supreme self-assurance instead. "I wanted to see people running around... But they don't do that," he observed.
A Century of Evolution and Influence
The documentary traces the magazine's journey from its origins as a humour-focused publication, founded by a Colorado high school dropout, to a journalistic powerhouse. It highlights pivotal moments that forced the magazine to mature, such as John Hersey's seminal 1946 piece on Hiroshima, which established its commitment to serious war reporting.
It also celebrates landmark works that shaped culture, including James Baldwin's 1962 essay 'A Letter from the Region of My Mind', which brought vital Black perspectives to a mainstream white audience, and Truman Capote's 'In Cold Blood', which spawned the true crime genre and led to the establishment of the magazine's famed fact-checking department. The film delights in the publication's idiosyncrasies, from its quirky typographical style to the passionate letters from readers who catch rare factual errors.
Narrated by Julianne Moore, the documentary serves as a tasting menu of the magazine's essence. It features contributors like Jesse Eisenberg and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and follows staff on assignments from a Syrian prison with war correspondent Jon Lee Anderson to an interview with Carol Burnett by profile writer Rachel Syme.
The Future of an Icon
Despite the celebratory tone, the film nods to contemporary challenges. It acknowledges the protracted union negotiations with parent company Condé Nast and internal tensions, such as those surrounding coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict. With Remnick turning 67, questions about the magazine's future leadership and direction linger.
Yet, with 1.25 million loyal subscribers, the New Yorker has carved a unique niche. Curry contrasts its approach with mass-market media, describing it not as a fast-food chain but as an exclusive restaurant serving "handmade, exquisitely crafted sushi" for a dedicated audience. The documentary ultimately poses the question: can this institution, which has so deftly chronicled the decline of other media outlets, endure for another century?
'The New Yorker at 100' is available to stream globally on Netflix now.
