‘Return of the Jedi,’ ‘Selena’ among additions to National Film Registry
The Force is strong with the 2021 additions to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
“Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi,” the original “Lord of the Rings” movie and the Selena Quintanilla biopic “Selena” are among the 25 films being inducted for preservation in the film registry, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Other new entries include 1902′s “Ringling Brothers Parade Film,” the 1975 comedy-drama “Cooley High,” the 1984 horror classic “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and Pixar’s “WALL-E,” which came out in 2008, making it the most-recent release to join the registry this year.
“Films help reflect our cultural history and creativity — and show us new ways of looking at ourselves — though movies haven’t always been deemed worthy of preservation,” Hayden said.
“The National Film Registry will preserve our cinematic heritage, and we are proud to add 25 more films this year,” Hayden continued. “The Library of Congress will work with our partners in the film community to ensure these films are preserved for generations to come.”
“Return of the Jedi,” which soared into theaters in 1983, is the third and final film from the original “Star Wars” trilogy to be preserved by the Library of Congress.
“Selena,” which starred Jennifer Lopez, came out in 1997 and centers on the life and
career of the famed Tejano singer. The addition of “Selena” comes nearly a year after Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas wrote a letter nominating the film.
“For over a century, movies have been central to how Americans understand each other and our country’s history,” the congressman wrote in the Jan. 1 letter.
“However, the film industry’s ongoing exclusion of Latinos unfortunately not only affects the Latinos seeking opportunities in the industry, but also affects how Latinos in everyday life are perceived, stereotyped, and too often misunderstood.”
The registry, which welcomes 25 new films each year, was created in 1988. Last year’s inductees included a record-setting number of movies by female filmmakers and directors of color.