‘Dark Knight,’ ‘Grease’ added to National Film Registry

Jonathan Landrum Jr./AP

Updated: Dec 14, 2020 / 08:20 AM CST

This image released by the Library of Congress shows Heath Ledger, left, and Christian Bale in a scene from the 2008 film “The Dark Knight.” The film was added to the National Film Registry. (Warner Bros.-Library of Congress via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This year’s inductees into the National Film Registry include a record number of female directors and filmmakers of color as well as a new crop of movies ranging from a silent short film thriller, classic musicals and an acclaimed Batman film.

The Library of Congress announced Monday that films including “The Dark Knight,” “Suspense,” musicals “Grease” and “The Blues Brothers” along with Sidney Poitier’s Oscar-winning performance in “Lilies of the Field” are among the 25 movies tapped for preservation this year.

The national library said this year’s selections include a record nine films directed by women and filmmakers of color.

This image released by the Library of Congress shows Olivia Newton John, left, and John Travolta in a scene from the 1978 film “Grease.” The film was added to the National Film Registry. (Paramount Pictures-Library of Congress via AP)

“With the inclusion of diverse filmmakers, we are not trying to set records but rather to set the record straight by spotlighting the astonishing contributions women and people of color have made to American cinema, despite facing often-overwhelming hurdles,” Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, said in a statement.

Hayden and film historian Jacqueline Stewart will discuss the new selections in a television special on Turner Classic Movies on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.

The library has selected movies for preservation because of their cultural, historic and artistic importance since the registry began in 1988. This year’s picks bring the total number of films in the registry to 800.

This image released by the Library of Congress shows Dan Aykroyd, left, and John Belushi in the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.” The film was added to the National Film Registry. (NBC/Universal-Library of Congress via AP)

Music was featured in this year’s selection including the film adaptation of Broadway musicals “Cabin in the Sky” in 1943 and “Grease,” which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978.

“The Blue Brothers” director John Landis called the film’s selection into the registry a “delightful surprise.”

“The film is the result of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s genuine passion for rhythm and blues and our mutual love for these great African American artists and the city of Chicago,” said Landis, who has two projects in the registry including “Animal House” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

The library chose a few more memorable titles such as Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker,” the animated film “Shrek” and “The Joy Luck Club,” a movie based on Amy Tan’s bestselling book that told the saga of two generations of Asian American women. The 2010 documentary “Freedom Riders,” also making its way into the registry, told an inspiring story about civil rights activists who fought against racial segregation on buses and trains in the 1960s.

This image released by the Library of Congress shows Tamlyn Tomita, clockwise from left, Ming-Na Wen, Rosalind Chao and Lauren Tom from the 1993 film “The Joy Luck Club.” The film was added to the National Film Registry. (Walt Disney Company-Library of Congress via AP)

Christopher Nolan’s 2008 Batman film “The Dark Knight” was a blockbuster and the top public vote-getter.

The other films directed by women include Lois Weber’s “Suspense,” Ida May Park’s “Bread,” Aloha Wanderwell’s “With Car and Camera Around the World,” Ida Lupino’s “Outrage,” Kathleen Collins’ “Losing Ground,” Julie Dash’s “Illusions,” Lourdes Portillo’s “The Devil Never Sleeps” and “Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege” by Joan Lander.

Additional films on the list include “Kid Auto Races at Venice” (1914), “The Battle of the Century” (1927), “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955), “A Clockwork Orange” (1971), “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” (1971), “Wattstax” (1973), “Buena Vista Social Club” (1999) and “The Ground” (1993-2001).