The Library of Congress adds 25 films to its National Film Registry each year.
Alongside Prince's 1984 Purple Rain film, the 2019 additions include Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Kevin Smith’s Clerks, Martin Scorcese's The Last Waltz, Oliver Stone's Platoon, and more.
Variety reports that the purpose of the National Film Registry is to preserve "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant films under the National Film Preservation Act.
Prince's Purple Rain album was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry seven years ago.
Purple Rain director Albert Magnoli says, "I am deeply honored that Purple Rain has been selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 2019. All of us strived to create a film that would capture the attention of what we believed at the time was a small audience. None of us expected this longevity. We simply worked hard every day to get it right, and this honor is a testament to the music, story and characters that were created by all of us so many years ago."
