Boldly entering the spotlight, some of cinema’s most beloved films are being recognized for their cultural significance. This year, Christopher Nolan's thought-provoking thriller "Inception," Amy Heckerling's charming coming-of-age comedy "Clueless," and Richard Linklater's poignant drama "Before Sunrise" have earned a prestigious place among the 25 films chosen for preservation by the National Film Registry.
Among the other noteworthy selections highlighted by the Librarian of Congress for their "cultural, historical, or aesthetic" value—each made at least a decade ago—are the 1989 war epic "Glory," the martial arts classic "The Karate Kid," Tom Hanks' gripping historical drama "Philadelphia," the biographical film "Frida," Wes Anderson's visually stunning "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and Pixar's animated favorite "The Incredibles."
This year's list even reaches back to the silent film era, showcasing six films produced from 1896 to 1926, including gems like "The Tramp and the Dog" and "The Lady." Notable Classic Hollywood additions encompass the beloved 1954 musical "White Christmas" and the delightful romantic comedy "High Society," featuring legendary talents such as Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, and Grace Kelly. Additional highlights include Ken Burns' insightful documentary "Brooklyn Bridge," Jim Carrey's genre-blending "The Truman Show," and the ensemble comedy "The Big Chill," which stars Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, and Kevin Kline.
Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen emphasized the importance of preserving these films, stating, "When we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come. These selections for the National Film Registry show us that films are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation’s story. We are proud to continue this important work, adding a broad range of 25 films to the National Film Registry as a collective effort in the film community to protect our cinematic heritage."
With this year's additions, the total number of titles in the National Film Registry has now reached an impressive 925. Fans of classic cinema will be pleased to know that Turner Classic Movies is set to air a television special on March 19, showcasing several of the newly inducted films.
Film historian and TCM host Jacqueline Stewart, who chairs the National Film Preservation Board, remarked on the significance of including six silent films this year, stating, "It is very meaningful that the National Film Registry is adding six silent film titles, showing the range of topics and styles in the earliest years of American filmmaking. And it is especially exciting to see that the top title nominated by the public for this year, 'The Thing,' has been added to the National Film Registry, along with 'The Truman Show' and 'The Incredibles,' which also received strong public support."
Here is the complete list of films selected for the 2025 National Film Registry:
• The Tramp and the Dog (1896)
• The Oath of the Sword (1914)
• The Maid of McMillan (1916)
• The Lady (1925)
• Sparrows (1926)
• Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
• White Christmas (1954)
• High Society (1956)
• Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
• Say Amen, Somebody (1982)
• The Thing (1982)
• The Big Chill (1983)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• Glory (1989)
• Philadelphia (1993)
• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Clueless (1995)
• The Truman Show (1998)
• Frida (2002)
• The Hours (2002)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• The Wrecking Crew (2008)
• Inception (2010)
• The Loving Story (2011)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
What do you think about these selections? Do you believe these films truly capture significant moments in American culture? Let's discuss in the comments!
