The National Film Preservation Act of 1988 was passed in recognition of the monumental quality of American films in their original or restored versions amid problems from emerging techniques to alter films (colorization) and evidence of the decay of film stocks and archives preserving older silent films and experimental stocks.

The Act established the National Film Preservation Board which manages the National Film Registry. Twenty-five “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” films are chosen each year to be included in the registry It now encompasses 250 films that define a diverse American canon across genres, eras and styles. In 1996 the National Film Preservation Foundation was founded to further the work of preserving orphan films (films that have no owners).