It is often said that cinema is a reflection of society. In this regard, America’s cinematic heritage and the movies that have impacted its culture and society over the generations are preserved by the National Film Registry (NFR).
Every year, the board selects 25 films that best represent the cultural impact and diversity of cinema. This year’s list is quite unique as it features selected movies that were made during the last 130 years of cinematic history. From classic action movies to contemporary ones, the list features all.
Movies included in 2024 National Film Registry
The National Film Registry was established in 1988 as an archive that consists of movies that have had an impact on society from historical, cultural, and artistic points of view. A movie can only make it to the list after 10 years of its release so that it gets enough time to be judged for its social impact.
This year, the registry includes movies from different genres, from different decades, and from different cultures as well. Along with having cultural and historical significance, some movies are also included as they played a major role in reviving and setting new standards in their franchises.
The latest movie that made it to the list is The Social Network, which was released in 2010. In an interview with the Library of Congress, Aaron Sorkin, who also won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, confessed that he was unaware of the cultural impact of The Social Network, saying,
It felt like a good courtroom drama to me. I didn’t know it was going to be a lot more than that at the time
The other movie among the recent ones is Spy Kids, which was released in 2001. The movie showed the Hispanic culture and its values, which were loved by audiences of different ethnicities.
The films included on the list for the 2024 National Film Registry are-
- Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895)
- KoKo’s Earth Control (1928)
- Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
- Pride of the Yankees (1942)
- Invaders from Mars (1953)
- The Miracle Worker (1962)
- The Chelsea Girls (1966)
- Ganja and Hess (1973)
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
- Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
- Zora Lathan Student Films (1975-76)
- Up in Smoke (1978)
- Will (1981)
- Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- Dirty Dancing (1987)
- Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt (1989)
- Powwow Highway (1989)
- My Own Private Idaho (1991)
- American Me (1992)
- Mi Familia (1995)
- Compensation (1999)
- Spy Kids (2001)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- The Social Network (2010)
This year’s selections include Annabelle Serpentine Dance, which was a silent short film from 1895, and the contemporary film based on Facebook, The Social Network, which shows the range of selections. The list also has some lesser-known but interesting movies like the horror-drama Ganja and Hess from 1973 and Zora Lathan Student Films made in 1975-76.
Public nominations and the voices of the National Film Registry
The selection process for the National Film Registry is not arbitrary in any means. According to Library of Congress, this year alone, people have submitted 6,700 titles for consideration.
More information on the selection process was given by Jacqueline Stewart, chairman of the National Film Preservation Board. In her interview at the Library of Congress, she mentioned that the board also aimed at representing all possible types of filmmaking. She added,
I’m thrilled that we recognize student films and independent films, animation, documentary and experimental works, as well as feature length narrative drama, comedy, horror, and science fiction on the registry this year.
Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, said, “Films reflect our nation’s history and culture and must be preserved in our national library for generations to come.” The additions this year stand for the filmmakers, communities, and advocates who have been working together to preserve America’s cinematic history.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Film Registry and who selects the films?
The National Film Registry, established in 1988, is an archive maintained by the Library of Congress that preserves films of lasting cultural, historical, or artistic significance to the United States. Each year the Librarian of Congress, advised by the National Film Preservation Board, selects 25 titles. A film must be at least 10 years old to be eligible, giving its impact time to be assessed.
Which films were added to the National Film Registry in 2024?
The 2024 class of 25 spans roughly 130 years of cinema. It includes Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895), KoKo’s Earth Control (1928), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), Pride of the Yankees (1942), Invaders from Mars (1953), The Miracle Worker (1962), The Chelsea Girls (1966), Ganja and Hess (1973), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), the Zora Lathan Student Films (1975-76), Up in Smoke (1978), Will (1981), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Dirty Dancing (1987), Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt (1989), Powwow Highway (1989), My Own Private Idaho (1991), American Me (1992), Mi Familia (1995), Compensation (1999), Spy Kids (2001), No Country for Old Men (2007), and The Social Network (2010).
Why are The Social Network and Spy Kids notable additions this year?
The Social Network (2010) is the most recent film on the 2024 list. In a Library of Congress interview, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for it, said he had not foreseen its cultural reach, recalling that it felt like a good courtroom drama at the time. Spy Kids (2001), Robert Rodriguez’s family-adventure hit, was recognized for spotlighting Hispanic culture and family values in a way that resonated with audiences across different backgrounds.
