Each year the Library of Congress selects a handful of films to be preserved in the National Film Registry. Each movie must be historically and culturally significant.
Past films to be honored with preservation include “Pulp Fiction” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Twenty-five new movies will be joining the ranks of the National Film Registry; a few of them are selections for which film fans have long clamored.
“Die Hard,” “Superman: The Movie,” “The Goonies,” “Titanic,” and “Field of Dreams” are among the new films selected.
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Other pieces of cinema chosen for preservation this year include 1941’s “Dumbo” and 1960’s “Spartacus.”
Various petitions have made their way around social media in recent years in an effort to get the Library of Congress to recognize 1988’s “Die Hard,” the classic action flick that made Bruce Willis a star.
The goal of the National Film Registry, its website says, is ultimately to “ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s film heritage.”
All of the films chosen have enduring significance in America’s popular culture even decades after their releases.
“Superman: The Movie” looked to comic books for its story inspiration — before special effects made such a thing so easy.
“Die Hard” also stunned audiences long before special effects made filmmaking so much more laid back.
Director Richard Donner and the late actor Christopher Reeve made people believe a man could fly without the easy-to-access trickery of today.
“Die Hard” also stunned audiences long before special effects made filmmaking so much more laid back. It’s a cutthroat thriller and a completely original endeavor that continues to influence action movies today, while fueling debate among film fans. One of those debates is whether the holiday-themed movie is actually a Christmas film.
Whether it is or not, there’s one thing certainty — it’s now a movie whose significance has been acknowledged and will be preserved.
PopZette editor Zachary Leeman can be reached at [email protected].
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