'Spy Kids,' 'Social Network' among 25 movies added to National Film Registry: See list

Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
Updated ·2-min read

Films like "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Spy Kids" will live on forever in cinema's hall of fame, better known as the National Film Registry.

The National Film Preservation Board announced Tuesday the 25 movies that are joining its sacred list, rounding out the total to 900. This year's class of movies range over a century and across genres, from the 1885 silent documentary "Annabelle Serpentine Dance" to the 2010 Facebook origin story "The Social Network."

Horror fans will be thrilled to see the 1974 cult classic "Texas Chainsaw Massacre," while sci-fi fans are rejoicing at the entry of "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan."

A handout still from the 2010 movie "The Social Network." The film was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry Tuesday.
A handout still from the 2010 movie "The Social Network." The film was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry Tuesday.

More than 6,700 titles were considered to join the registry but a surmountable 25 will be cemented on the list, which has long honored classics like "When Harry Met Sally," "The Lion King," "Ghostbusters" and "The Godfather." Films are selected based on their "cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage," according to Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

TV special honoring films to air Dec. 18

A television special honoring the 25 additions to the National Film Registry will be hosted by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

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"The wealth of American film history is sometimes rather overwhelming, and people often wonder: how do you recommend this film or that film?” National Film Preservation Board Chair Jacqueline Stewart said in a news release. "It's through a lot of research, conversation and discussion, and it's through a commitment to showing the true diversity of filmmaking."

A handout still from the 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing." The film was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry Tuesday.
A handout still from the 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing." The film was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry Tuesday.

Here are the 25 films joining the National Film Registry

  • 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)

How to nominate movies to the National Film Registry's list

The public can submit nominations throughout the year on the Library of Congress' website, but movies will be only be considered until Aug. 15, 2025. Cast your vote at loc.gov/film.

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Last year's selections included noteworthy movies from "Home Alone" and "Apollo 13" to "12 Years a Slave."This article was updated with a new video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 25 movies will join National Film Registry: See the full 2024 list

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