The more we pivot to digital content, the less physical media exists. That means, we're always in danger of losing films and TV shows into the ether. But, lucky for us, there's a cinematic vault run by the Library of Congress, dedicated to preserving movies deemed important to our culture.

And this year, the Library of Congress has officially announced the 2025 additions to the National Film Registry.

They cover 100+ years of filmmaking, and it's exciting to see what they deemed important to preserve for generations to come.

Normally, they'd announce in December, but we're getting them now.

Let's dive in.

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Star Power: Double Inductions

Getting a movie in the National Film Registry is important for everyone involved. It means your hard work is going to be preserved forever.

Well, two of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men saw two of their films added to the registry simultaneously, which is a huge achievement.

  • Denzel Washington: Recognized for his powerful performances in the Civil War drama Glory (1989) and the groundbreaking Philadelphia (1993).
  • Bing Crosby: The midcentury icon was honored for his roles in the holiday staple White Christmas (1954) and the musical comedy High Society (1956).

Gen X Favorites and Cult Classics

I think there's a misconception about what goes into the registry. A lot of people think it has to be like classy or indie movies, but it really is movies that have become essential parts of our culture.

So it should not be surprising that the announcement of what was added leaned heavily into beloved films from the 1980s and 90s.

Leading the pack are the teen satire Clueless (1995), which just celebrated its 30th anniversary, and the martial arts movie The Karate Kid (1984).

"I'm amazingly proud," star Ralph Macchio told the Library of Congress. "The National Film Registry and film preservation are so important because it keeps the integrity of cinema alive for multiple generations."

The List of Movies Added to the Film Registry

The entire list of movies added to the National Film Registry for 2025 follows in chronological order:

  1. The Tramp and the Dog (1896)
  2. The Oath of the Sword (1914)
  3. The Maid of McMillan (1916)
  4. The Lady (1925)
  5. Sparrows (1926)
  6. Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
  7. White Christmas (1954)
  8. High Society (1956)
  9. Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
  10. Say Amen, Somebody (1982)
  11. The Thing (1982)
  12. The Big Chill (1983)
  13. The Karate Kid (1984)
  14. Glory (1989)
  15. Philadelphia (1993)
  16. Before Sunrise (1995)
  17. Clueless (1995)
  18. The Truman Show (1998)
  19. Frida (2002)
  20. The Hours (2002)
  21. The Incredibles (2004)
  22. The Wrecking Crew (2008)
  23. Inception (2010)
  24. The Loving Story (2011)
  25. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Vote on The National Film Registry

One of the cool things about this process is that you get a say in it! The public submitted 7,559 titles for consideration this year.

If you have other films you think should be in there, you can submit nominations throughout the year on the Library’s website. Nominations for next year will be accepted until Aug. 15, 2026. You can cast your vote at loc.gov/film.

Summing It All Up

This work is important, but it's not isolated. The Library of Congress does preserve films, but it's also a resource for filmmakers, so the relationship is symbiotic.

Wes Anderson said when they were trying to make The Grand Budapest Hotel, that the Library was a great resource to them.

"When we were first starting to try to figure out, how do we tell this story… the architecture and the landscapes… they don't exist anymore," he continued, "We just went through the entire photocrom collection, which is a lot of images. And …we made our own versions of things, but much of what is in our film comes directly - with our little twist on it - from that collection, from the library, the Library of Congress."

Seeing them work to then preserve a movie that would not have been possible without them warms my heart. And I know, like many filmmakers, I'll strive to make something that goes in there someday.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

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