Library Of Congress Adds 25 Films Including 'Clueless' And 'Inception' To Registry
Library of Congress on Jan. 29 named 25 films, including 'Clueless' and 'Inception,' to the National Film Registry, bringing the list to 925 titles.
Associated PressAs if! 'Clueless,’ ‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Inception’ among 25 movies entering National Film Registry
CBS News"Inception," "The Karate Kid," "The Incredibles" among films newly named to National Film Registry
NPR'Philadelphia,' 'Clueless,' 'The Karate Kid' added to the National Film Registry
DeadlineNational Film Registry Adds ‘Karate Kid’, ‘Glory’, ‘Clueless’, ‘The Incredibles’, ‘Inception’, ‘Philadelphia’ & More In Latest Class
Rolling Stone'Clueless,' 'Inception,' 'The Incredible' Join the Library of Congress' Film Registry
Overview
The Library of Congress on Jan. 29 added 25 films including Amy Heckerling's "Clueless," Christopher Nolan's "Inception," and "The Karate Kid" to the National Film Registry, bringing the registry to 925 titles, the agency said.
The selections were chosen for their "cultural, historic or aesthetic importance" and span films from 1896 to 2014, with a larger-than-usual group of silent films, the Library said in a release.
Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen said in a release that "when we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come," commenting on the year's diverse picks.
The oldest addition is William Selig's 1896 short "The Tramp and the Dog," and the most recent is Wes Anderson's 2014 "The Grand Budapest Hotel," with the Library noting the registry now complements roughly 2 million moving-image collection items.
Turner Classic Movies will air a TV special screening selections on March 19, and the Library said 7,559 titles were submitted for consideration this year, underscoring ongoing preservation efforts.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the National Film Registry selections with a light, celebratory tone, prioritizing familiar titles and registry praise. Editorial choices—playful ledes ("As if…", "Cher Horowitz fans, rejoice"), highlighted registry descriptions ("pants humor", "meticulous historical research"), and ordering of notable films (Clueless, Inception, The Karate Kid)—emphasize nostalgia and cultural significance.