‘Spy Kids,’ ‘American Me’ among 25 movies to be preserved in the Library of Congress

Movies featuring Latino characters, storylines or direction were among the 25 films selected to be inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry 2024, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced Tuesday.

After being nominated for consideration by the public, each film was selected due to its cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage. 

Of the films selected this year, five include prominent Latino artists or themes: “American Me,” “Mi Familia,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Spy Kids” and “Up in Smoke.”

“Up in Smoke” and “Spy Kids” are Cheech Marin’s first films on the registry. 

“The level of improv that we brought to those [Cheech and Chong] movies is what gave it a spontaneity,” Marin said in an interview with the Library of Congress. “And that's why people thought they were happening for the first time. Because in many instances, it was happening for the first time…the challenge was not to laugh during it.” 

“Spy Kids” stars Antonio Banderas as Gregorio Cortez, Banderas’ first film on the registry. The character’s name is a nod to the famous Mexican folk hero Gregorio Cortez, who killed a Texan sheriff and evaded authorities long enough for it to become the largest manhunt in U.S. history.

“Mi Familia” features actor Edward James Olmos, and “American Me,” Olmos’ directorial debut, is also his first induction into the registry as a director.

“I went for stories that weren’t going to be told by anybody else,” Olmos said in an interview with the Library of Congress. “Originally, no one wanted to do ‘American Me,’ but I knew it had to be told.”

“Mi Familia” director Gregory Nava now has three acclaimed movies on the National Film Registry, with previous selections being “El Norte” and “Selena.”

“During the nation’s nearly 250-year history, immigration has fueled the continuing vibrancy of our culture, commerce and creativity,” the library wrote in its analysis of “Mi Familia.” “Director Gregory Nava creates an emotional and evocative story of multi-generational Mexican-American family life, narrated by a second-generation immigrant.”

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a television special Wednesday, Dec. 18, starting at 8 p.m. ET to screen a selection of films named to the registry this year. Hayden will join TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, to discuss the films.

Nominations for next year will be accepted until Aug. 15, 2025 on the Library’s website. You can cast your vote, and see the full list of this year's inductees, at loc.gov/film.