Marvel Studios’ first feature Iron Man has been announced as part of this year’s inductees into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, a collection of films chosen for preservation due to their historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions.
The full list of 25 films chosen for the 2022 National Film Registry are:
- Mardi Gras Carnival (1898)
- Cab Calloway Home Movies (1948-1951)
- Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
- Charade (1963)
- Scorpio Rising (1963)
- Behind Every Good Man (1967)
- Titicut Follies (1967)
- Mingus (1968)
- Manzanar (1971)
- Betty Tells Her Story (1972)
- Super Fly (1972)
- Attica (1974)
- Carrie (1976)
- Union Maids (1976)
- Word is Out: Stories of Our Lives (1977)
- Bush Mama (1979)
- The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)
- Itam Hakim, Hopiit (1984)
- Hairspray (1988)
- The Little Mermaid (1989)
- Tongues Untied (1989)
- When Harry Met Sally (1989)
- House Party (1990)
- Iron Man (2008)
- Pariah (2011)
“Films have become absolutely central to American culture by helping tell our national story for more than 125 years,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “We are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage. We’re grateful to the entire film community for collaborating with the Library of Congress to ensure these films are preserved for the future.”
Although it may upset some on the Scorsese side of the whole Superhero Movies/Cinema debate, there’s simply no denying the impact that Marvel’s Iron Man has had on cinema and popular culture over the past decade and a half, with the Jon Favreau-directed film serving as the launchpad for the juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Iron Man was the very first film Marvel Studios independently produced,” said Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige. “It was the first film that we had all of the creative control and oversight on and it was really make or break for the studio. All of our favorite movies are the ones that we watch over and over again and that we grow up with. The notion that here we are, almost 15 years after the release of Iron Man, and to have it join the Film Registry tells us it has stood the test of time and that it is still meaningful to audiences around the world.”
