Ric Burns Returns to PBS with New Chapters in New York’s History

The new films, Shadows of the Past and The Future of Cities, anchor themselves in the volatile decades that reshaped the metropolis. The first installment traces the city’s late 20th-century decline, capturing the period of urban instability that preceded a sharp drop in crime. It concludes on a precarious note in the summer of 2001, just before the city’s trajectory was irrevocably altered by external threats. The narrative then shifts to the recovery efforts following 9/11, documenting a succession of crises—from the 2008 financial collapse to Superstorm Sandy and the 2020 pandemic—that tested the city’s economic and demographic foundations.

Narrated by Robert Sean Leonard, the production relies on rare archival footage and high-definition cinematography to illustrate how New York repeatedly defied predictions of its demise. The films feature perspectives from a wide array of urban observers and former mayors, including David Dinkins, Michael R. Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, and Eric Adams. The timeline extends into the present, closing with the inauguration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani in January 2026. By examining these recent chapters, the filmmakers aim to show how the core themes of immigration and physical reinvention have continued to drive the city’s evolution in the 21st century.