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Today: March 16, 2025

Coming home, staying home: 'Apollo 13' and 'Home Alone' among 25 films picked for national registry

Macaulay Culkin Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
December 13, 2023

Houston, we have a problem: Where's Kevin?

Perhaps the ultimate coming-home movie, โ€œApollo 13,โ€ and the ultimate staying-home one, โ€œHome Alone,โ€ are both being honored this year, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry They're part of an annual group of 25 that this year spans more than 90 years of filmmaking.

The 2023 collection includes the sci-fi sequel โ€œTerminator 2: Judgment Day,โ€ the Disney animated classic โ€œLady and the Tramp,โ€ and the searing, Oscar-winning drama โ€œ12 Years a Slave.โ€ Just in time for the holidays, โ€œThe Nightmare Before Christmasโ€ is included.

Coming home, staying home: 'Apollo 13' and 'Home Alone' among 25 films picked for national registry
Macaulay Culkin Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The oldest film is from 1921: โ€œA Movie Trip Through Filmland,โ€ a very early look at the impact of movies. The newest are both from 2013: โ€œ12 Years a Slaveโ€ and the Oscar-winning documentary โ€œ20 Feet From Stardom,โ€ about backup singers.

The registry is housed at the Library of Congress, which since 1988 has selected movies for preservation based on their cultural and historic importance. The current picks bring the registry to 875 films โ€” some, but not all, among the 2 million items in the libraryโ€™s collection. Turner Classic Movies will host a TV special on Thursday, screening a selection of this yearโ€™s movies.

A look at some of the films entering the registry

โ€The Wedding Banquetโ€ (1993): Ang Leeโ€™s romantic comedy about a gay man from Taiwan trying to hide his orientation from his family, featuring an over-the-top wedding banquet.

โ€Bamboozledโ€ (2000): Spike Leeโ€™s stinging satire about race in entertainment, with Damon Wayans as a program executive at a cable network.

Coming home, staying home: 'Apollo 13' and 'Home Alone' among 25 films picked for national registry
Macaulay Culkin Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

โ€Maya Lin: A Strong, Clear Visionโ€ (1994): Freida Lee Mockโ€™s Oscar-winning documentary about the artist who created two famous memorials.

โ€œApollo 13โ€ (1995): Ron Howardโ€™s impeccably told chronicle of the near-tragedy involving U.S astronauts trying to get back to Earth, featuring Tom Hanks and the famous (and slightly altered) quote: โ€œHouston, we have a problem.โ€

โ€œDesperately Seeking Susanโ€ (1985): Susan Seidelmanโ€™s uniquely New York saga featuring Rosanna Arquette and none other than Madonna as the elusive Susan.

โ€œMatewanโ€ (1987): John Saylesโ€™ tale of efforts in 1920 to unionize a company town in West Virginia.

Coming home, staying home: 'Apollo 13' and 'Home Alone' among 25 films picked for national registry
Macaulay Culkin Honored With a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

โ€œHome Aloneโ€ (1990): Chris Columbusโ€™ holiday classic about, let's face it, deeply questionable parenting that made wide-eyed Macaulay Culkin โ€” aka Kevin โ€” a star.

โ€œAlambristaโ€ (1977): Robert M. Youngโ€™s story of a Mexican migrant laborer in the United States.

โ€œFameโ€ (1980): A story of students seeking fame at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, and known for Irene Caraโ€™s version of the title song.

โ€œLady and the Trampโ€ (1955): The classic Disney canine love story, featuring surely the most famous spaghetti kiss in animated film.

The Full List

Coming home, staying home: 'Apollo 13' and 'Home Alone' among 25 films picked for national registry
National Film Registry

โ€œA Movie Trip Through Filmlandโ€ (1921); โ€œDinner at Eightโ€ (1933); โ€œBohulano Family Film Collectionโ€ (1950s-1970s); โ€œHelen Keller: In Her Storyโ€ (1954); โ€œLady and the Trampโ€ (1955); โ€œEdge of the City: (1957); โ€œWeโ€™re Aliveโ€ (1974); โ€œCruisinโ€™ J-Townโ€ (1975); โ€œAlambristaโ€ (1977); โ€œPassing Throughโ€ (1977); โ€œFameโ€ (1980); โ€œDesperately Seeking Susanโ€ (1985); โ€œThe Lighted Fieldโ€ (1987); โ€œMatewanโ€ (1987); โ€œHome Aloneโ€ (1990); โ€œQueen of Diamondsโ€ (1991); โ€œTerminator 2: Judgment Dayโ€ (1991); โ€œThe Nightmare Before Christmasโ€ (1993); โ€œThe Wedding Banquetโ€ (1993); โ€œMaya Lin: A Strong Clear Visionโ€ (1994); โ€œApollo 13โ€ (1995); โ€œBamboozledโ€ (2000); โ€œLove & Basketballโ€ (2000); โ€œ12 Years a Slaveโ€ (2013); โ€œ20 Feet From Stardomโ€ (2013).

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