The Library of Congress has announced its annual selection of 25 films for inclusion in the prestigious National Film Registry, with iconic titles such as Clueless, Inception and The Karate Kid making the cut. This year's diverse list celebrates movies deemed to have significant cultural, historical or aesthetic importance, ensuring their preservation for future generations.
A Celebration of Cinematic Heritage
Since 1988, the Library of Congress has curated this annual list, requiring that each film be at least ten years old. The 2025 selections span an impressive 118 years, from the oldest entry, William Selig's 1896 silent film The Tramp and the Dog, to the most recent, Wes Anderson's visually sumptuous 2014 comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel. The latter was noted by the registry for its meticulous historical research conducted at the Library itself.
Notable Additions from Modern Cinema
Among the contemporary classics chosen are Amy Heckerling's 1995 teen comedy Clueless, a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma that embedded phrases like "As if!" into the popular lexicon. Christopher Nolan's mind-bending 2010 thriller Inception was also selected, recognised for challenging audiences with its complex, layered narrative and groundbreaking visual effects.
Other significant modern films include the first instalment of the Karate Kid franchise from 1984, described as "as American as they come", and Pixar's beloved 2004 superhero animation The Incredibles. The list also honours important social narratives, such as Jonathan Demme's 1993 drama Philadelphia, one of the first major studio films to confront the HIV/AIDS crisis, and Edward Zwick's 1989 Civil War epic Glory.
Historical Gems and Documentary Excellence
The registry continues its mission to preserve historically vital works, including several early silent films. The Tramp and the Dog (1896), once thought lost before its 2021 rediscovery in Norway, is noted as an early example of "pants humour". The Maid of McMillan (1916), a whimsical fifteen-minute romance shot by Washington University students, is believed to be the first student film on record.
Documentary filmmaking is represented by Ken Burns' 1981 film Brooklyn Bridge, his first broadcast on PBS, which the registry praises by stating Burns has become "a trusted public historian". Danny Tedesco's 2008 documentary The Wrecking Crew, exploring the unsung studio musicians behind 1960s and 70s hits, also receives recognition.
Golden Age Glamour and Thematic Depth
From Hollywood's golden age, the 1956 musical High Society is celebrated as "the last great musical of the Golden Age", featuring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly in her final film role before marrying Prince Rainier. The registry notes Kelly wore her Cartier engagement ring during filming.
The selections demonstrate remarkable thematic range, from the romantic idealism of Richard Linklater's 1995 film Before Sunrise, praised for its innovative use of time, to the 1926 silent film Ten Nights in a Barroom, featuring an all-Black cast and adapted from a 1854 temperance novel.
Preservation and Public Engagement
Turner Classic Movies will host a television special on 19th March to screen a selection of these newly preserved films, offering audiences a chance to engage with this important cinematic heritage. The full list of 2025 inductees represents a broad cross-section of American filmmaking, ensuring that everything from student projects to blockbuster spectacles receives the careful preservation it deserves for posterity.
The National Film Registry continues to serve as a vital cultural archive, recognising films that have shaped not just cinema, but American society itself. From early silent comedies to modern animated adventures, this year's selections remind us of the enduring power and importance of the moving image.
