Imagine a magazine so iconic, so deeply woven into the fabric of American culture, that attempting to capture its essence in a 90-minute film feels akin to bottling the spirit of an entire nation. That’s the audacious task Marshall Curry took on with The New Yorker at 100, a Netflix documentary that peels back the layers of one of the world’s most revered publications. But here’s where it gets intriguing: Curry, a seasoned filmmaker, quickly realized that turning the lens on The New Yorker was no ordinary challenge. As one observer quipped, it’s like trying to condense the complexity of America into a single movie—a feat even Ken Burns might hesitate to tackle.
Curry and his team spent a year immersed in the magazine’s world, sifting through archives, sitting in on editorial meetings, and shadowing legendary figures like editor David Remnick. But what they found wasn’t the frenzied, deadline-driven chaos often romanticized in media portrayals. Instead, they encountered a calm, almost serene confidence—a hallmark of The New Yorker’s enduring appeal. Curry admits, “I was hoping for scenes of people scrambling, shouting about deadlines, but that’s just not how they operate.” This supreme self-assuredness has allowed the magazine to thrive in an era where print journalism is often written off as a relic.
While other publications chased trends and faded into obscurity, The New Yorker doubled down on its unique blend of curiosity, wit, and intellectual rigor. Its pages are a collage of wry cartoons, cultural critiques, and in-depth investigations that have cultivated a fiercely loyal readership. And this is the part most people miss: It’s not just about the content; it’s about the experience. Readers don’t just consume The New Yorker—they live with it, carry it in branded totes, and proudly display stacks of unread issues as badges of honor.
Curry’s film mirrors the magazine’s eclectic style, featuring a star-studded cast of narrators and contributors, from Julianne Moore to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We see art editor Françoise Mouly grappling with the centennial issue cover, war correspondent Jon Lee Anderson in a Syrian prison, and investigative reporter Ronan Farrow uncovering Trump administration secrets. But the real magic happens when Curry tries to interview these seasoned journalists. As he explains, “I’d ask David Remnick a question, wait for the awkward silence, and he’d just smile and say, ‘Marshall, I know that trick.’”
The documentary shines brightest when it retraces The New Yorker’s evolution from a Mad magazine-style humor publication to a journalistic powerhouse. From John Hersey’s groundbreaking Hiroshima report to James Baldwin’s searing essays during the civil rights movement, the magazine has consistently risen to meet the moment. But here’s the controversial part: As The New Yorker has grown into a multimedia brand, questions about its future loom large. With Remnick’s tenure nearing its end, will the magazine become a museum piece? And what of its recent labor disputes, like the Condé Nast union battle or the fact-checker who quit over coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict?
Curry admits he didn’t witness internal strife during his time with the magazine, noting a surprising diversity of thought among staffers. Yet, the film only briefly nods to these tensions, leaving viewers to wonder: Can The New Yorker survive another century? Or even this economy? With 1.25 million subscribers, it’s not aiming to be McDonald’s, as Curry puts it. Instead, it’s a boutique sushi restaurant, crafting perfection for a devoted few.
The New Yorker at 100 is now streaming on Netflix, but the questions it raises are far from settled. Is the magazine’s model sustainable in an age of digital disruption? And what does its future say about the future of journalism itself? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one conversation that’s just getting started.
