Classic films like “Dirty Dancing,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” and “Up in Smoke” added to National Film Registry

Nobody puts baby in a corner, but they’re putting her in the National Film Registry.

Two iconic 1980s films, “Dirty Dancing” and “Beverly Hills Cop,” have been selected to be included in the Library of Congress’ registry. This annual selection of 25 films, announced on Wednesday, showcases a diverse range of movies spanning 115 years of filmmaking.

Released in 1987, “Dirty Dancing” captivated audiences with the chemistry between Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle and Jennifer Grey as Frances “Baby” Houseman. The film not only entertained but also delved into important social issues such as abortion, classism, and antisemitism. One of the most memorable moments is when Swayze’s character defiantly declares, “Nobody puts baby in a corner” before they dance to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

In contrast, the 1984 action-comedy “Beverly Hills Cop” marked a significant milestone for Eddie Murphy, establishing him as one of the biggest movie stars of his time. The film’s success also contributed to the popularity of action comedies, cementing its place in cinematic history.

Since 1988, the Librarian of Congress has annually selected movies for preservation that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. The current picks bring the registry to 900 films. Turner Classic Movies will host a TV special on Wednesday, screening a selection of the class of 2024.

The oldest film is from 1895 and brought its own form of dirty dancing: “Annabelle Serpentine Dance” is a minute-long short of a shimmying Annabelle Moore that was decried by many as a public indecency for the suggestiveness of her moves. The newest is David Fincher’s “The Social Network” from 2010.

A look at some of the films entering the registry

“Pride of the Yankees” (1942): The film became the model for the modern sports tear-jerker, with Gary Cooper playing Lou Gehrig and delivering the classic real-life line: “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”

“The Miracle Worker” (1962): Anne Bancroft won an Oscar for best actress for playing title character Anne Sullivan and 16-year-old Patty Duke won best supporting actress for playing her deaf and blind protege Helen Keller in director Arthur Penn’s film.

“Up in Smoke” (1978): The first feature to star the duo of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong established a template for the stoner genre and brought weed culture to the mainstream. Marin, who also appears in the inductee “Spy Kids” from 2001, is one of many Latinos with prominent roles this year’s crop of films.

“Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan” (1982): The second movie in the “Star Trek” franchise featured one of filmdom’s great villains in Ricardo Montalban’s Khan, and showed that the world of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock could bring vital thrills to the cinema.

“Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt” (1989): The Oscar-winning documentary on the NAMES Project Aids Memorial Quilt was a landmark telling of the devastation wrought by the disease.

“My Own Private Idaho” (1991): Director Gus Van Sant’s film featured perhaps the greatest performance of River Phoenix, a year before the actor’s death at age 23.

“American Me” (1992): Edward James Olmos starred and made his film directorial debut in this tale of Chicano gang life in Los Angeles and the brutal prison experience of its main character.

“No Country for Old Men” (2007): Joel and Ethan Coen broke through at the Oscars with their adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel, winning best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay, while Javier Bardem won best supporting actor for playing a relentless killer with an unforgettable haircut.

Full list of 2024 National Film Registry inductees

“Annabelle Serpentine Dance” (1895)

“KoKo’s Earth Control” (1928)

“Angels with Dirty Faces” (1938)

“Pride of the Yankees” (1942)

“Invaders from Mars” (1953)

“The Miracle Worker” (1962)

“The Chelsea Girls” (1966)

“Ganja and Hess” (1973)

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)

“Uptown Saturday Night” (1974)

Zora Lathan Student Films (1975-76)

“Up in Smoke” (1978)

“Will” (1981)

“Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan” (1982)

“Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)

“Dirty Dancing” (1987)

“Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt” (1989)

“Powwow Highway” (1989)

“My Own Private Idaho” (1991)

“American Me” (1992)

“Mi Familia” (1995)

“Compensation” (1999)

“Spy Kids” (2001)

“No Country for Old Men” (2007)

“The Social Network” (2010)