The Lion King to be preserved by US Library of Congress.

[Elton John]

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38312379

Sweet.

[TheLionPrince]

Awesome! Given how popular and iconic the film is, you would think it would have been registered a lot sooner. Nevertheless, better late than never. Although it's unlikely, I hope they preserved the original theatrical cut, which Disney hasn't released since 1995.

[Elton John]

The movie needs to be at least a decade old and have shown cultural significance.

The breakfast club was just added and that movie is 31 years old.

By now tlk has hit the same level of pop culture importance as a lot of walt era disney films.

[TheLionPrince]

[quote="The Lionvengers"]The movie needs to be at least a decade old and have shown cultural significance.

The breakfast club was just added and that movie is 31 years old.

By now tlk has hit the same level of pop culture importance as a lot of walt era disney films.[/quote]

I know the ten-year rule. Even Toy Story was registered at the Library of Congress by the end of its ten-year existence in 2005. I wouldn't say by now Lion King has hit the epitome of cultural significance because it certainly was abundant in pop culture since its initial release as it referenced and parodied multiple times on television programs, spawned two best-selling sequels, and had a popular, award-winning Broadway musical to keep its brand alive — and all within a span of ten years. Even the 2011 re-release brought more attention to the film.

But like I said, better late than never.

[Elton John]

While all of that IS true, I was talking about the level of Bambi, Snow White, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty.

Being iconic on a very high level.

I'm assuming that toy story made it before tlk because it wasthe first fully cgi film.

[TheLionPrince]

I know the films you were referring to. I was just saying Lion King probably become more cultural significantly and iconic a lot faster than those films. Some of the films you listed were box office flops upon initial release and had to be re-issued to gain their cultural acclaim. For example, Sleeping Beauty didn't do as well at the box office in 1959, and wasn't re-released until 1970 where it still performed mildly at best. It probably didn't reach its height of popularity until the 1980s.

[SimbasGuard]

I never gave any thought to this happening. I was thrilled that this happened, but if you think about it. It is rather uprising that it didn't happen sooner.

[Lynx]

[quote="Groot"]The movie needs to be at least a decade old and have shown cultural significance.

The breakfast club was just added and that movie is 31 years old.

By now tlk has hit the same level of pop culture importance as a lot of walt era disney films.[/quote]
The films are also decided on a voting basis. If a film's not voted in by the committee it remains on the list indefinitely.

[Squeely]

I suppose it is a little a strange that it took so long for it to happen, since TLK has been a massively popular phenomenon since its debut. But glad it finally happened!