‘Clueless,’ ‘The Karate Kid,’ ‘Inception’ among 25 movies entering National Film Registry
This image released by the Library of Congress shows Alicia Silverstone in a scene from the 1995 film "Clueless," one of 25 classic movies chosen this year by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry. (Paramount Pictures/Library of Congress via AP)
As if they’d leave “Clueless” off the list.
Cher Horowitz fans, rejoice: Amy Heckerling’s 1995 teen comedy is one of 25 classic movies chosen this year by the Library of Congress for its National Film Registry.
And if “Clueless” wasn’t your jam — whatever! — maybe this will send you deep into your dreams: Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending “Inception” is in the mix. Other films chosen for preservation include “The Karate Kid,” “Glory,” “Philadelphia,” “Before Sunrise,” “The Incredibles” and “Frida.” There are four documentaries, including “Brooklyn Bridge” by Ken Burns. From old Hollywood, there’s the 1954 musical “White Christmas,” and the 1956 “High Society,” Grace Kelly’s last movie before marrying into royalty.
Since 1988, the Library of Congress has selected 25 movies each year for preservation due to their “cultural, historic or aesthetic importance.” The films must be at least 10 years old.
The oldest of the 2025 picks dates from 1896, filmmaker William Selig’s “The Tramp and the Dog.” The newest of the group is from 2014: Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” which, the registry noted, involved “meticulous historical research at the Library of Congress to create visually striking scenery.”
Turner Classic Movies will host a TV special March 19 to screen a selection of the films.
A closer look at some of this year’s selections:
“The Big Chill” (1983): Lawrence Kasdan’s era-defining story of a group of friends reuniting after a suicide features Glenn Close, William Hurt, JoBeth Williams, Kevin Kline, Jeff Goldblum and Meg Tilly in an ensemble that “portrays American stereotypes of the time — the yuppie, the drug dealer, the TV star — and deftly humanizes them.”
“The Karate Kid (1984): The first film in the franchise, starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, is “as American as they come,” the registry says — “a hero’s journey, a sports movie and a teen movie — a feel-good movie, but not without grit.”
“Clueless” (1995): Heckerling’s teen comedy, starring Alicia Silverstone, was a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma” and forever enshrined the phrase “As if!” into popular culture. The registry hails “its peak-1990s colorful, high-energy, soundtrack-focused on-screen dynamism.”
“Inception” (2010): In a movie that asks whether it’s possible to influence a person’s thoughts by manipulating their dreams, Nolan “once again challenges audiences with multiple interconnected narrative layers while delivering thrilling action sequences and stunning visual effects.”
Full list of 2025 National Film Registry 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)
