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‘Terminator 2,’ ’12 Years a Slave’ among movies added to National Film Registry for 2023

by Lauren Irwin

Hat in hand, a sadder-but-wiser Jack Skellington gets a boost from his ghost dog, Zero, when he and his plans for a "new and improved" Christmas get shot down and he realizes for the first time that scaring people is what he does best in the Touchstone Pictures animated film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Twenty-five influential films have been added to the National Film Registry, the Library of Congress announced Friday, including “Terminator 2,” “12 Years a Slave,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

“Films are an integral piece of America’s cultural heritage, reflecting stories of our nation for more than 125 years,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the film community for collaborating with the Library in our goal to preserve the heritage of cinema.”

Each year, 25 movies are added to the registry for their “cultural, historical or aesthetic importance.” The films must be at least 10 years old.

With the 2023 additions, the total number of films inducted into the register is 875, the Library said.

Members of the public can submit films important to them, and this year, people submitted 6,875 different titles.


Jacqueline Stewart, the chair of the Library’s National Film Preservation Board, said the 2023 selections show the country’s cultural diversity and storytelling range.

This year also attempted to highlight Asian Americans and their experiences in filmmaking. “Maya Lin,” “Cruisin’ J-Town” and the Bohulano Family Film Collection were among this year’s chosen titles.

The full list of 2023 National Film Registry selections, provided in chronological order by the Library of Congress:

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