'The Shining,' 'Jurassic Park,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' and More Join the National Film Registry

In the age of the digital, film preservation is incredibly important. As more films make the switch from celluloid to pixels, the art of film archiving (and in effect, film saving) has never been more necessary, making sure that the history of motion pictures isn't lost to forthcoming format changes and software updates. 

It's with this in mind that the Library of Congress today announced the films that will be joining the National Film Registry's Class of 2018. In order to be selected for preservation, the Library of Congress must deem the film in question “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. As is an annual tradition, 25 films were selected for inclusion this year, and they include animated classics, Best Picture winners, documentaries, films from the 19th century, and films directed by Native Americans.

The most recent film added to the Registry is Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain from 2005 (a film must be at least 10 years in existence in order to be eligible), while the oldest is Something Good – Negro Kiss from 1898. 1940 Best Picture winner Rebecca and 1964 Best Picture winner My Fair Lady made the cut, as did 1987 Best Picture nominee Broadcast News and multiple Academy Award winner Hud from 1963.

Blockbusters in this year's crop include the gargantuan mega-hit Jurassic Park and Stanley Kubrick's fear-inducing, conspiracy-theory-presenting The Shining starring Jack Nicholson. Documentaries partly consisted of Hearts and Minds and Monterey Pop and animated classics included Cinderella from 1950. Smoke Signals, a film deemed historic for having been the first to be written and directed by Native Americans, also joined the list.

“The National Film Registry turns 30 this year and for those three decades, we have been recognizing, celebrating and preserving this distinctive medium,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “These cinematic treasures must be protected because they document our history, culture, hopes and dreams.”

To check out the full list of the 25 films that have been added to the National Film Registry, scroll down below. 

National Film Registry's Class of 2018

1. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
2. Broadcast News (1987)
3. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
4. Cinderella (1950)
5. Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
6. Dixon-Wanamaker Expedition to Crow Agency
7. Eve’s Bayou (1997)
8. The Girl Without a Soul (1917)
9. Hair Piece: A Film for Nappy-Headed People (1984)
10. Hearts and Minds (1974)
11. Hud (1963)
12. The Informer (1935)
13. Jurassic Park (1993)
14. The Lady From Shanghai (1947)
15. Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
16. Monterey Pop (1968)
17. My Fair Lady (1964)
18. The Navigator (1924)
19. On the Town (1949)
20. One-Eyed Jacks (1961)
21. Pickup on South Street (1953)
22. Rebecca (1940)
23. The Shining (1980)
24. Smoke Signals (1998)
25. Something Good – Negro Kiss (1898)