Short answers, pulled from the story.
The National Film Registry is the National Film Preservation Board's collection of films selected for preservation based on their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. It was established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, passed in response to controversy over the colorization of classic black-and-white films.
As of the 2025 induction, the National Film Registry holds 925 films. Up to 25 films are added each year, and a film must wait at least ten years after its original release before it is eligible for selection.
Newark Athlete, released in 1891, is the oldest film in the National Film Registry. The most recent film selected is The Grand Budapest Hotel, released in 2014.
Raging Bull holds the record for the shortest wait. It was released theatrically in New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto on the 14th of November, 1980, and inducted in October 1990, slightly shy of the ten-year minimum.
John Ford has the most films in the National Film Registry, with eleven entries including The Iron Horse, Stagecoach, The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, and a segment of How the West Was Won.
Since 1997, members of the public have been able to nominate up to 50 films per year for consideration, with an August submission deadline. The National Film Preservation Board and the Librarian of Congress use these nominations alongside their own deliberations to select up to 25 films annually.