From Clueless to The Big Chill: The National Film Registry’s Latest Class Is a Pop Culture Dream

Film history just hit play on a greatest-hits playlist — and this year’s National Film Registry additions prove that unforgettable soundtracks, iconic style moments, and culture-shifting stories are forever in style

The Library of Congress has unveiled its 25 newest additions to the National Film Registry, honoring films selected for their cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance. Spanning nearly 120 years of cinema history, the 2025 selections bring the total number of preserved titles to 925, ensuring that the movies that shaped — and continue to shape — American culture remain accessible for future generations.

Some of these newly inducted films live within the Library of Congress’ massive 2 million–item moving image collection, while others are preserved in collaboration with copyright holders and film archives nationwide. The message is clear: these stories are too important to ever fade out.

When the Soundtrack Is the Legacy

Image: Cinetext/Columbia/Allstar

If there’s one thing this year’s list makes abundantly clear, it’s that music doesn’t just accompany great films — it defines them.

Few movies understand this better than The Big Chill (1983), Lawrence Kasdan’s generational drama whose Motown-filled soundtrack turned nostalgia into a full-blown cultural movement. The film didn’t just remind audiences of classic songs — it reintroduced them as emotional touchstones, forever linking soul classics to cinematic storytelling.

That same emotional resonance defines Philadelphia (1993), one of the first mainstream films to focus on the AIDS crisis. Jonathan Demme’s groundbreaking drama featured Bruce Springsteen’s Oscar-winning “Streets of Philadelphia” alongside Neil Young’s haunting, Oscar-nominated title song — music that helped the film speak when words alone weren’t enough.

Music lovers will also recognize the significance of Say Amen, Somebody (1982), a joyful and deeply moving documentary celebrating the history of gospel music. Featuring rare late-career footage of Thomas A. Dorsey — widely known as the “Godfather of Gospel Music” — the film preserves not just performances, but the spiritual roots of an entire genre.

Then there’s The Wrecking Crew! (2008), a must-watch documentary spotlighting the unsung West Coast session musicians behind countless 1960s hits. According to Billboard, the musicians featured played on at least 90 Top 40 songs, including work by legendary bassist Carol Kaye, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.

Fashion Moments That Refuse to Fade

Image: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Of course, some films don’t just influence culture — they dress it.

Nearly three decades after its release, Clueless (1995) remains a fashion fandom obsession. Amy Heckerling’s Beverly Hills comedy turned plaid skirts, knee-high socks, and pastel power suits into a visual language that still inspires designers, influencers, and pop stars alike. Its impact even extended into music, inspiring Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX’s chart-topping “Fancy” video years later.

Also earning its place in the Registry is The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), the newest film added this year. Wes Anderson’s meticulously styled world — paired with Alexandre Desplat’s Oscar-winning score — proves that modern cinema already belongs in the canon of cultural classics.

Meanwhile, Frida (2002) blends art, fashion, and identity through Julie Taymor’s bold direction and Salma Hayek’s iconic portrayal of Frida Kahlo, complemented by the Oscar-nominated song “Burn It Blue.”

From Silent Films to Modern Classics

Image: MGM

This year’s Registry class also honors the earliest days of filmmaking, with six silent-era titles dating from 1896 to 1926. Some of these films were nearly lost to time, including The Tramp and the Dog (1896), rediscovered in 2021, and The Maid of McMillan (1916), originally created as a student film.

“When we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come,” said acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen. “These selections for the National Film Registry show us that films are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation’s story,” — a sentiment reflected in the remarkable range of stories preserved this year.

Fans Have a Say — and Voting Is Open

This year’s selections were shaped not just by historians and archivists, but by the public. A total of 7,559 titles were submitted for consideration, with fan-favorite films like The Thing, The Karate Kid, The Truman Show, and The Incredibles receiving especially strong support. Here’s the full list of this year’s inductees:

• The Tramp and the Dog (1896)

• The Oath of the Sword (1914)

• The Maid of McMillan (1916)

• The Lady (1925)

• Sparrows (1926)

• Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)

• White Christmas (1954)

• High Society (1956)

• Brooklyn Bridge (1981)

• Say Amen, Somebody (1982)

• The Thing (1982)

• The Big Chill (1983)

• The Karate Kid (1984)

• Glory (1989)

• Philadelphia (1993)

• Before Sunrise (1995)

• Clueless (1995)

• The Truman Show (1998)

• Frida (2002)

• The Hours (2002)

• The Incredibles (2004)

• The Wrecking Crew (2008)

• Inception (2010)

• The Loving Story (2011)

• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

If you would like to cast your vote for future Registry additions the voting goes on year-round. Film fans can submit nominations via the Library of Congress website. Nominations for the 2026 class are open until August 15, 2026. Head to loc.gov/film — because preserving pop culture is a group project.

H/T: Library of Congress