Star Trek II Joins National Film Registry

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan has been named to the National Film Registry along with 24 other films. The film registry is a preservation effort by The Library of Congress to preserve films based on "due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance." Other films added this year include Beverly Hills Cop, No Country for Old Men, Dirty Dancing and more. Full details on the films chosen, the selection process and more can be found at the official announcement.

TCM film historian Jacqueline Stewart said “The National Film Registry now includes 900 titles, and what's remarkable to me is that every year when the board talks about films and their significance, we find new titles to consider. The wealth of American film history is sometimes rather overwhelming, and people often wonder: how do you recommend this film or that film? It's through a lot of research, conversation and discussion, and it's through a commitment to showing the true diversity of filmmaking. I'm thrilled that we recognize student films and independent films, animation, documentary and experimental works, as well as feature length narrative drama, comedy, horror and science fiction on the registry this year.”

Star Trek II writer and director Nicholas Meyer made a statement on Bluesky about his film joining the registry, saying "I am greatly surprised and gratified by this honor, but I feel bound to say in the same breath that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan stands on the shoulders of many who contributed to the film as well as those who have gone before. Alas, they are not here to take their well-deserved bows. We must pay tribute to Gene Roddenberry, Gene Coon, Harve Bennett, Jack Sowards, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Kirstie Alley, James Doohan, Merritt Butrick, Bibi Besch, Paul Winfield, Joe Jennings, Gayne Rescher, Bill Dornisch, Mike Minor & a host of others. In their name and on behalf of current and future Star Trek creators, and on behalf of Star Trek itself and its message of optimism, I thank the Library of Congress for this lovely accolade."