The National Film Registry adds 25 new films, including ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’

The Library of Congress just added 25 new films to the National Film Registry, including cult classics like Dirty dancing (1987), Beverly Hills cop (1984), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) And Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

With the new additions, the National Film Registry now has a total of 900 films in its collection. This year’s choices range in tone and genre, including comedies, dramas, horrors, animated films, documentaries, blockbusters and independent films.

For Trekkies the addition of The Wrath of Khan is a welcome choice. It has been the gold standard of what Star Trek films have been able to perform for over 40 years in terms of both storytelling and box office numbers. Now the film is boldly going where no other film in its franchise history has ever gone: the National Film Registry.

“I think it goes back to the principles of what made Star Trek popular way back when it came out,” says William Shatner, the original Captain James T. Kirk. Washingtonpostby Thomas Floyd. “For the most part [the TV series] told personal stories that connected with the audience, so that the science fiction aspect came to the background and they were stories about people. That, I think, is the key to the success of this film.”

Movies like Beverly Hills cop And Dirty dancing have been loved for decades. The first is a fun comedy starring Eddie Murphy as a Detroit police officer in Los Angeles investigating the murderer of a childhood friend. The movie was a hit and so was the movie theme song“Axel F.” The latter, starring Patrick Swayze And Jennifer Grayis iconic for its dance moves and one-liners like ‘Nobody puts Baby in a corner’, and is also known for the way it portrays female sexuality, as well as topics such as abortion and class dynamics.

Choosing which films make their way onto the coveted list is a careful process that requires consultation, debate and even input from the public. This year, the public submitted more than 6,700 film nominations, with strong support for popular titles that made the list:The social network (2010), about the rise of Facebook, and No country for old men (2007), about a Texas murderer.

“The wealth of American film history is sometimes quite overwhelming and people often wonder: how do you recommend this film or that film?” Jacqueline Stewardsays the chairman of the National Film Preservation Board in a statement. “It comes through a lot of research, conversations and discussion, and it’s through the commitment to showcasing the true diversity of filmmaking.”

This year’s list is also notable for the inclusion of films with actors and directors of color. Five of the films are directed by black filmmakers: Ganja & Hess (1973), Saturday night in Uptown (1974), Zora Lathan student films (1975-76), Shall (1981) And Compensation (1999). Five others feature films with prominent Spanish protagonists and stories. That includes Spy children (2001), a popular family film that weaves Spanish culture into a plot about children who discover that their parents are spies.

“Movies reflect our nation’s history and culture and should be preserved in our national library for generations to come,” said Librarian of Congress. Carla Hayden says in the statement. “We are honored to have the responsibility of adding 25 diverse new films to the National Film Registry each year as we work to preserve our cultural heritage.”

View the full list in chronological order:

Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1895)
KoKo’s Earth Control (1928)
Angels with dirty faces (1938)
The pride of the Yankees (1942)
Invaders from Mars (1953)
The miracle worker (1962)
The Chelsea girls (1966)
Ganja & Hess (1973)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Saturday night in Uptown (1974)
Zora Lathan student films (1975–1976)
Up in smoke (1978)
Shall (1981)
Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan (1982)
Beverly Hills cop (1984)
Dirty dancing (1987)
Common Topics: Stories from the Quilt (1989)
Powwow Highway (1989)
My own private Idaho (1991)
American me (1992)
My family (1995)
Compensation (1999)
Spy children (2001)
No country for old men (2007)
The social network (2010)