The films named today to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry, to be preserved for future generations, include the science-fiction classic “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg from the future; “Apollo 13,” Ron Howard’s acclaimed dramatization of a catastrophic mission to the moon and NASA’s efforts to get the astronauts back alive; and “Home Alone,” a beloved Christmas comedy about a boy fending off a pair of bumbling burglars.
Since 1989, 25 films have been inducted yearly into the Registry based on their significance to American cinema history on a cultural, historic, and artistic level. After being nominated by academics, film fans, and filmmakers, films from all genres are included.
The Disney animated picture “Lady and the Tramp” and Tim Burton’s stop-motion “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are among the new additions this year, along with the musical “Fame,” which stars Irene Cara, the comedy “Desperately Seeking Susan,” which stars Madonna and Rosanna Arquette, and John Sayles’ drama “Matewan,” which centres on union organisers in coal country.
The romantic drama “Love & Basketball” by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the 1933 ensemble comedy “Dinner at Eight,” which was based on the play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, “Bamboozled,” a satire by Spike Lee about television and racial stereotypes, and “Edge of the City,” a drama starring Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes that examined interracial friendships, are also valuable seeing.
The number of films in the Registry has increased to 875 with the additions this year. The earliest is “A Movie Trip Through Filmland,” a short documentary from 1921 that demonstrates the process of making Kodak film stock. The most recent, from 2013, are the best picture winner “12 Years a Slave,” which tells the true story of a free Black man who is kidnapped and sold into slavery, and the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet From Stardom,” which celebrates backup singers.
“Films are an integral piece of America’s cultural heritage, reflecting stories of our nation for more than 125 years. We are proud to add 25 diverse films to the National Film Registry as we preserve our history through film,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
Turner Classic Movies will present a selection of this year’s Registry additions on Thursday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET. A few titles can also be viewed for free on the Library’s National Screening Room site.