The Library of Congress has added 25 more films to the National Film Registry. Each year the library chooses films they deem are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically” significant to add to the registry. This year’s additions include Forrest Gump, Bambi (long overdue, I’d say), and The Silence of the Lambs, as well as the sci-fi classic The War of the Worlds (1953), Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend, and Charlie Chaplin’s first feature The Kid. In addition, the Library of Congress chose to add student works from Pixar Animation co-founder Ed Catmull and director Robert Rodriguez‘s El Mariachi. Hit the jump to check out the full list of this year’s films, which also includes a short blurb about each film.

There’s nothing like a tough-minded, film noir excursion into the bleaker side of the human soul to make the hottest days of summer seem even more unrelenting.  With that in mind, here’s the first of several noir picks to get you through the steamy evenings.