Amy Heckering's 1995 comedy, "Clueless," was one of the defining films of decade and was just inducted into the National Film Registry. But even as the director of another generational favorite from the 1980s, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," Heckerling didn't see it coming while writing and working on the film. And that title? She got it from her babysitter.
Wes Anderson's touching 2014 film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel," joins the National Film Registry this year. Anderson and his team used the Library's vast collection of hand-tinted European photographs from before World War I to help create the titular hotel's distinctive look.
The 2025 National Film Registry is out today, showcasing a group of 25 films spanning 118 years and including fan favorites such as “The Thing,” “Clueless,” “The Big Chill” and “The Incredibles.” The Library’s annual addition to the list of films to be preserved for their cinematic and cultural heritage starts with the 1896 silent film, “The Tramp and the Dog,” and stretches to the 2014 Wes Anderson picture, “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
Charles Fox was always exciting and new -- the composer was a hit-making wonder in the 1970s and 1980s, writing themes for television shows such as “The Love Boat,” “Happy Days,” “Laverne and Shirley,” “Wonder Woman" and “Monday Night Football.” He also composed classic hits such as "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and "I Got a Name." A trove of his papers are now at the Library.
Few things say "Christmas" quite like George Frideric Handel’s 18th-century oratorio “Messiah” — the thrilling power of its “Hallelujah” chorus has given audiences goosebumps for 283 years and counting. The Library holds some dazzling early printings, including a complete orchestral score bound in sumptuous red leather, brilliantly gilded.
Johnathan Larson and Leonard Bernstein had huge successes on Broadway, from "West Side Story" to "Rent." Their vibrant careers are preserved in the Library's Music Division, showcasing their generational talents.
On the fourth anniversary of Stephen Sondheim's death, his friend and colleague Adam Guettel -- the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of “The Light in the Piazza,” “Floyd Collins” and “Days of Wine and Roses" -- writes a short piece about their friendship.
Stephen Sondheim put together "Send in the Clowns," his most famous song, in about 24 hours during rehearsals of "A Little Night Music." His lyric and music sheets chart the song's quick progression.
The papers of Jonathan Larson and Leonard Bernstein are among many of the Library's musical holdings that have been used extensively by composers, actors and musicians in producing works on Broadway and in Hollywood. Lin-Manuel Miranda drew on Larson's papers for his production of "tick...tick...BOOM!" and the creative team behind the Bernstein documentary "Bernstein's Wall" and the feature film "Maestro" used Library collections for their works.
