LGBTQ+-inclusive films were among the 25 films added to the 2025 National Registry. The registry comes out of the United States National Film Preservation Board, started in 1988, to “ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s film heritage.”
Among this year’s inductees, are several films that feature prominent LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. They include:
Philadelphia (1993) The film stars Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett, an HIV-positive gay lawyer who hires attorney Joe Miller, played by Denzel Washington, to represent him in a wrongful termination suit against his former firm. Antonio Banderas also stars as Andrew’s partner, Miguel, who supports him through his fight. Hanks won his first Academy Award for best actor for the role.
Frida (2002) The biopic about the life and loves of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo stars Salma Hayek in the title role. The film explores Kahlo’s bisexuality and her relationships with both men and women.
The Hours (2002) The film features an ensemble cast including Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore as three women whose lives are linked through the Virginia Woolf novel Mrs. Dalloway. Queerness plays a significant role in each woman’s life, including Streep’s character, who has a lesbian partner. Kidman won the Academy Award for best actor for her portrayal of Woolf.
For a full list of titles, visit loc.gov.