The September Issue

R J Cutler's The September Issue takes viewers inside Vogue as the magazine's top editor and her editorial team scramble to assemble the year's defining issue. The film follows Anna Wintour as she presides over meetings, model tests, and page layout debates, balancing taste, budget, and influence. We see Grace Coddington pushing for daring fashion stories, while Anna demands discipline and sharper focus. The camera captures tense conversations, the pressure of deadlines, and the tension between creative vision and commercial pragmatism. With candid moments from André Leon Talley, Hamish Bowles, and Tonne Goodman, the documentary reveals a high stakes world where taste equals business and impact is measured in pages. It also shows how even small choices shape the season.

Directed by R J Cutler this 2009 documentary pulls back the curtain on Vogue and its editors during the production of the 2007 fall issue. The film features Anna Wintour Grace Coddington and other fashion power players in candid moments.

Box office earnings for The September Issue totaled 6,442,300, reflecting its appeal to fashion insiders and documentary fans and enthusiasts. The film's footprint is modest for a prestige release, yet it helped spark wider discussion about industry behind the scenes.

Many viewers come away with a heightened sense of how fashion magazines shape trends and careers. The film showcases how editorial choices ripple through the industry, influencing designers and photographers. It is often cited in discussions about power dynamics in fashion and the documentary approach to style. For industry insiders.

Critics praised the film for its intimate access and sharp portrayal of the editors rivalry and collaboration. It centers on the tension between artistic ambition and commercial needs, presenting a candid portrait of leadership by a formidable editor and the team that fuels fashion's yearly cycle. Impact lasts beyond fashion.