"Classic Blockbusters Join Prestigious National Film Registry"

Library of Congress National Film Registry

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, are among the films named today to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry, to be preserved for future generations.

Each year since 1989, 25 motion pictures are inducted into the Registry, chosen for their cultural, historic and aesthetic importance to America's film heritage. Movies from all genres are included, after being nominated by filmmakers, academics, and film fans.

Other additions this year include the Disney animated feature "Lady and the Tramp" and Tim Burton's stop-motion "The Nightmare Before Christmas"; the musical "Fame," starring Irene Cara; "Desperately Seeking Susan," a comedy starring Madonna and Rosanna Arquette; and John Sayles' drama of union organizers in coal country, "Matewan."

Also: "Bamboozled," Spike Lee's 2000 satire about television and racial stereotypes; Gina Prince-Bythewood's romantic drama "Love & Basketball"; the 1933 ensemble comedy "Dinner at Eight," based on the George S. Kaufman-Edna Ferber play; and "Edge of the City," a drama starring Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes that explored interracial friendships.

This year's additions bring the total number of films in the Registry to 875 — the oldest being "A Movie Trip Through Filmland," a short documentary from 1921 that shows how Kodak film stock is made; the most recent, from 2013, are the Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet From Stardom," a celebration of backup singers, and the Oscar-winner for best picture, "12 Years a Slave," the true story of a free Black man in the 1840s who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.

"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.

On Thursday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET, Turner Classic Movies will screen a selection of this year's Registry additions. Select titles are also freely available online in the Library's National Screening Room.

Below is a complete list of this year's additions.

To submit nominations for films to be inducted in the Registry, click here.

Comedies

"Bamboozled" (2000) – Spike Lee's satire about television and media stereotypes stars Damon Wayans as an African American TV executive who proposes a racist minstrel show featuring African American performers donning blackface. Instead of getting him fired, the show becomes a smash, while also inspiring violence by militant groups. With Savion Glover, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tommy Davidson, Mos Def, Michael Rapaport, and The Roots.

"Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985) – This screwball comedy about mistaken identity from director Susan Seidelman ("Smithereens") stars Rosanna Arquette as a New Jersey housewife who becomes entranced with the doings of a free-spirit from New York's Lower East Side, Susan (played by Madonna). A murder factors into the plot, but the film's take on the city's '80s milieu, music and fashion keep it frothy.

"Dinner at Eight" (1933) – The pre-Code comedy/drama about a high society get-together features a stellar ensemble – Jean Harlow, John and Lionel Barrymore, Marie Dressler, Billie Burke and Wallace Beery, to name a few – orchestrated by director George Cukor. Frances Marion and Herman J. Mankiewicz adapted the George S. Kaufman-Edna Ferber play.

"Home Alone" (1990) – This endearing holiday mix of slapstick comedy from writer John Hughes and director Chris Columbus stars Macaulay Culkin as a young boy haphazardly left behind at Christmas time when his family rushes off for a European vacation, who must fend for himself when a pair of bumbling burglars (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) shows up at his house. With John Heard and Catherine O'Hara.

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Romantic Comedy

"The Wedding Banquet" (1993) – A groundbreaking romantic comedy by Ang Lee, known for his films "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." This film explores the clash of cultures within the Chinese-American community. The story follows a gay Taiwanese immigrant living in New York who enters into a marriage of convenience with a woman from mainland China. Things become complicated when he must introduce his bride to his visiting family.

Animation

"Lady and the Tramp" (1955) – This classic animated feature from Disney tells the heartwarming tale of an unlikely romance between a pampered cocker spaniel and a homeless mutt. Notable singer Peggy Lee provided the voice for Pekingese Peg and co-wrote six songs for the film, including the popular "He's a Tramp." Interestingly, Lee later won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Disney for releasing the film on home video without her consent, featuring her songs.

Dramas

"Alambrista!" (1977) – Directed by Robert M. Young, known for "The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez," this film tells the story of Roberto, a Mexican migrant laborer facing various challenges in the United States. From evading immigration officials to working hard to support his family back home, Roberto's journey is both inspiring and thought-provoking.

"Apollo 13" (1995)

Ron Howard's acclaimed dramatization of the near-tragic Apollo 13 flight, in which astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise face a catastrophe in space, follows the efforts of both the lunar mission crew and NASA ground staff to get them back alive. With a top-notch cast (including Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise, and Oscar-nominees Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan), the film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best picture, and won two (for film editing and sound).

"Edge of the City" (1957)

John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier star in Martin Ritt's first feature film, a character drama about an Army deserter who builds a friendship with a fellow dock worker in New York City. Featuring Ruby Dee, Kathleen Maguire and Jack Warden. The film was praised by the NAACP for its portrayal of interracial relationships.

"Love & Basketball" (2000)

Gina Prince-Bythewood's directorial debut is a romantic drama about sports, in which a man and a woman's shared love for basketball extends to each other.

"Matewan" (1987)

John Sayles dramatizes the bloody struggle facing coal miners in their efforts to unionize in 1920 West Virginia. The film stars Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Will Oldham, Mary McDonnell and David Straithairn, and features stunning, Oscar-nominated cinematography by Haskell Wexler.

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"Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) – Arnold Schwarzenegger played a relentless killer robot from the future in James Cameron's low-budget thriller "The Terminator." Despite his cyborg being destroyed, Schwarzenegger returned for Cameron's sequel where he faced off against a more technologically-advanced killer robot from the future (played by Robert Patrick). With groundbreaking computer-generated effects and an outstanding performance by Linda Hamilton as a fierce revolutionary fighting against the impending takeover of humanity by artificial intelligence, "T2" became a milestone for the franchise, setting a high standard for all subsequent apocalyptic sci-fi films.

"12 Years a Slave" (2013) – Steve McQueen's film, based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, tells the story of a free African American who was kidnapped in the 1840s, taken to the South, and sold into slavery. It is a harrowing tale of inhumanity and one man's fight to regain his freedom. The film features an exceptional cast including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Sarah Paulson, Alfre Woodard, and Brad Pitt, who also produced the film. Additionally, it marked the screen debut of Lupita Nyong'o, who won an Oscar for her outstanding performance as Patsey, an enslaved woman tormented by her owners.

Musicals

"Fame" (1980) – This ebullient musical directed by Alan Parker takes place at the High School of the Performing Arts in New York City. The film stars Irene Cara, who herself was a former student at the School of Performing Arts. Cara sings popular songs like "Out Here on My Own," "Hot Lunch Jam," "I Sing the Body Electric," and the title tune, which won an Oscar for Best Original Song. Despite not being allowed to film at the actual school building, Parker managed to include students from the school as background characters, including future dress designer Isaac Mizrahi. Student Laura Dean also won a principal role in the film. Parker aimed to make the dance sequences feel spontaneous and organic to the story, creating a sense of "choreographed bedlam."

"Passing Through" (1977) – Larry Clark's drama explores the world of jazz through the story of an African American ex-con. The film showcases music by legendary artists such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Sun Ra. "Passing Through" is a rarely screened film that is not available in home video formats, as per the director's wishes. Despite its limited availability, it is highly regarded as one of the top jazz films.

Documentaries

"Cruisin' J-Town" (1975) – Directed by Duane Kubo, this documentary explores the political and cultural landscape of the 1960s and '70s through the music of jazz fusion band Hiroshima. The film highlights the influences of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles.

"Helen Keller in Her Story" (1954) – Nancy Hamilton's documentary profiles Helen Keller, a blind and deaf advocate for disabled rights. Hamilton's film won an Academy Award for its portrayal of Keller's inspiring story.

Documentary Films

"Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision" (1994)

Freida Lee Mock's documentary explores the life and work of Maya Lin, a Chinese American artist and architect. As a Yale student, Lin won a nationwide design competition to create the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. Despite criticism for its stark and evocative design, the memorial stands today as a cathartic testament to lives lost and is one of the most visited sites in Washington, D.C. Mock received an Oscar for best feature documentary for this film.

"20 Feet from Stardom" (2013)

Morgan Neville's Oscar-winning documentary sheds light on the contributions of backup singers in the music industry. The film highlights the often anonymous or overlooked work of revered backup singers such as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer, and Judith Hill. These singers have shared the stage with renowned artists like Dionne Warwick, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Luther Vandross, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.

"We're Alive" (1974)

Michie Gleason, Christine Lesiak, and Kathy Levitt, three female UCLA graduate students, organized a video workshop featuring roundtable discussions by inmates at the California Institution for Women in Chino, the largest women's prison in the U.S. at the time. The interviews, recorded by the inmates themselves, address the condemnation of prison life and the challenges of racism and economic disenfranchisement they face upon release. The film has been digitally restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive with the help of a 16mm print provided by the British Film Institute.

Experimental/Short Films

Bohulano Family Film Collection (1950s-1970s) – Home movies have periodically been added to the Registry, both for their unfiltered depictions of American life, and as a nod to the democratic nature of motion picture technology. For more than 20 years Delfin Paderes Bohulano and Concepcion Moreno Bohulano used 8mm cameras to document their family life – births, graduations, marriages, baby showers, funerals – and the Filipino community in Stockton, California, as well as trips across the United States and overseas.

"The Lighted Field" (1987) – An avant-garde work by Andrew Noren, who created this hour-long abstraction of light and shadow, using found footage, some pulled from archives, and doctored images of nature and domesticity to comment on the passage of time.

"A Movie Trip Through Filmland" (1921) – Cameras take the audience to the headquarters of Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York, to learn how motion picture film stock is made.

"Queen of Diamonds" (1991) –Feminist filmmaker Nina Menkes, noted for her poetic and surreal experimental films, collaborated with her frequent collaborator, her sister Tinka Menkes, who portrays a blackjack dealer and the alienation of her life in Las Vegas. Channeling Chantal Akerman, the film observes the desolation and loneliness of the city and surrounding desert, contrasted against the glaring nighttime views of the Strip. Recently restored by the Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation.

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