The NFR Class of 2018: My Ballot

It’s that time of year again: time to submit my list of 50 movies I consider worthy of NFR recognition. Dwindling the list down from thousands of films to just 50 is daunting, but I’m happy with my choices this year. Here are my picks for the 2018 National Film Registry, in no particular order:

How Are These Not on the List Yet?: Big (1988), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Jurassic Park (1993), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Poltergeist (1982), The Shining (1980), The Sixth Sense (1999), What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

Movies I’d Give a Pass To: Dirty Dancing (1987), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Speed (1994), To Have and Have Not (1944)

I Went Crazy and Submitted a Bunch of Disney Movies: Cinderella (1950), Finding Nemo (2003), Lady and the Tramp (1955), The Little Mermaid (1989), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Comedies!: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Best in Show (2000), 9 to 5 (1980), The Odd Couple (1968), The Player (1992)

Musicals!: Anchors Aweigh (1945), Grease (1978), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), The King and I (1956), On the Town (1949)

Thrillers! (Not to Be Confused with “Thriller”, Which Is Already on the List):Carrie (1976), Gaslight (1944), The Man Who Laughs (1928), Rope (1948), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Because At Least One Movie with Smash Mouth’s “All-Star” Should Be In the NFR: Shrek (2001)

More Recent Fare: Boogie Nights (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Favorites That Probably Won’t Make the List: Anchorman (2004), It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World (1963), Labyrinth (1986), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996), Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Sandlot (1993), A Thousand Clowns (1965)

And Let’s Get the Ball Rolling on the Most Recent Eligible Films:The Dark Knight (2008), Wall-E (2008)

Last year, four of my 50 made the Registry; not too shabby considering the thousands of eligible films. As always, you can nominate up to 50 films every year for consideration. The 2018 deadline has passed, but you can get a head start on 2019 with this list of eligible films. Films #726-#750 will be revealed in December.