“The Karate Kid,” “The Truman Show” and “The Incredibles” were all big hits when they were first released and have continued to be a part of the cultural zeitgeist. To ensure the preservation of these films so future audiences can enjoy them, the Librarian of Congress has added them to the National Film Registry, part of a list unveiled Thursday of 25 movies, ranging from silents to recent hits.
In the blockbuster category, “The Karate Kid” (1984), starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita as a martial arts student and his sensei, inspired numerous sequels, television shows and even video games. “The Truman Show” (1998) follows the title character (played by Jim Carrey) who, unbeknown to him, is living on a soundstage and having his every move recorded for a reality TV series, a setup with ramifications that are still studied in psychology, sociology and philosophy circles. The Pixar superhero movie “The Incredibles” (2004) was included for new design elements that better portrayed human anatomy.
This year, the acting librarian of Congress, Robert R. Newlen, chose the titles in consultation with the National Film Preservation Board, led by Jacqueline Stewart, and other experts. The public could also take part and nominated more than 7,500 titles for consideration, outstripping last year’s 6,800 suggestions. “The Incredibles” had strong popular support, Stewart noted in a news release, but No. 1 on the public list was “The Thing,” the 1982 sci-fi horror classic whose famous fans include Stephen Colbert and Ryan Coogler.
Other, more traditional classics added to the registry include two with Bing Crosby: “White Christmas” (1954), the holiday viewing favorite, and “High Society” (1956), with Grace Kelly’s last movie performance before she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.
In a few of this year’s selections, movie stars who are staples of Hollywood were just getting their starts. “Clueless” (1995), the adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma,” included breakout roles for Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd. “The Big Chill” (1983) boasted a strong ensemble of actors, including Glenn Close, Kevin Kline and Jeff Goldblum.
Six of this year’s additions are silent films that were released between 1896 and 1926. The oldest, “The Tramp and the Dog” (1896), a William Selig short about a foiled pie theft, is considered the first commercial film made in Chicago. “The Oath of the Sword” (1914), which was created by and for Asian Americans, tells the story of separated young lovers, one in Japan and the other in California. “The Maid of McMillan” (1916) is the first known student film and was shot at Washington University in St. Louis. “Sparrows,” starring Mary Pickford, and “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” featuring an all-Black cast, are both 1926 examples of the melodramas that were gaining in popularity at the time.
Four documentaries made the list, including Ken Burns’s first, “Brooklyn Bridge” (1981), about the building of that New York City landmark. “The Wrecking Crew” (2008) took the director Denny Tedesco 12 years to complete and required a Kickstarter campaign to raise more than $300,000 to help license the music that was an essential part of the tale of a group of fabled Los Angeles studio musicians. “The Loving Story” (2011) by Nancy Buirski tells of Richard and Mildred Loving, the couple at the heart of the Supreme Court case that helped legalize interracial marriage. “Say Amen, Somebody” (1982), from George Nierenberg, celebrates the historical importance of gospel music.
The two most recently released features on the list were each four-time Oscar winners: “Inception” (2010), written and directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014), from Wes Anderson.
Including these additions, there are now 925 films on the National Film Registry, and the Librarian of Congress works to ensure that all of these titles are properly preserved — if they weren’t already. Films have to be at least 10 years old to be eligible for consideration.
Turner Classic Movies will host a special on March 19 with Stewart, the National Film Preservation Board chair, introducing the newly added films, with some being screened. Some of the titles are also available to stream online at the National Screening Room.
Below are the 25 new additions to the National Film Registry:
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)
Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections.
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