Every December, the US Library of Congress' National Film Registry selects 25 movies that are added to its roster for preservation, and on December 13 the 2023 picks were announced. Among them were popular classics like Home Alone, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Spike Lee joint Bamboozled and Best Picture-winner 12 Years a Slave, but there are also movies on the list that go all the way back to 1921.
The announcement of these 25 movies begs the question: how many of the newly minted entries to the National Film Registry have you seen?
Here is the complete list of 2023 additions to the National Film Registry and how (and if) you can watch them online:
- A Movie Trip Through Filmland (1921); excerpt available on YouTube
- Dinner at Eight (1933); available via digital on-demand
- Bohulano Family Film Collection (1950s-1970s); not available online
- Helen Keller: In Her Story (1954); available on YouTube
- Lady and the Tramp (1955); streaming on Disney Plus
- Edge of the City (1957); available via digital on-demand
- We're Alive (1974); available on YouTube
- Cruisin' J-Town (1975); excerpt available on YouTube
- ¡Alambrista! (1977); streaming on The Criterion Channel
- Passing Through (1977); not available online
- Fame (1980); available via digital on-demand
- Desperately Seeking Susan (1985); streaming on Tubi and Pluto TV
- The Lighted Field (1987); not available online
- Matewan (1987); not available online
- Home Alone (1990); streaming on Disney Plus
- Queen of Diamonds (1991); streaming on Mubi
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); streaming on Paramount Plus
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993); streaming on Disney Plus
- The Wedding Banquet (1993); streaming on Amazon Freevee, Tubi and Pluto TV
- Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994); available online
- Apollo 13 (1995); streaming on The Roku Channel
- Bamboozled (2000); available via digital on-demand
- Love & Basketball (2000); streaming on Tubi
- 12 Years a Slave (2013); available via digital on-demand
- 20 Feet from Stardom (2013); streaming on Cinemax
For more information on each of the movies, visit the Library of Congress' website, where filmmakers and film historians offer insights into each movie.
Personally, I've seen nine of the 25 movies selected this year, so might have to try and find some time to watch a few more.
As part of the additions to the National Film Registry, Turner Classic Movies is airing a special on Thursday, December 14, at 8 pm ET/PT, where TCM host, film historian, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures director and president and chair of the National Film Preservation Board Jacqueline Stewart will sit down with the Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden to discuss many of the movies.
These 25 movies bring the total of movies of the National Film Registry to 875. Each year's selections are based on a list of movies nominated by the public. You can nominate movies for possible inclusion next year until August 15, 2024, at loc.gov/film.
