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Why was Annie Hall selected for preservation in the National Film Registry?

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Woody Allen speaking into a microphone with hands raised beside his face during a press conference, against a red background. — Woody Allen American director Woody Allen attending a press conference for *Café Society* before the opening of the 69th Cannes film festival, 2016.

Annie Hall (1977) was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1992 because it is considered a classic of American cinema.1

The film is recognized for its significant innovations within the romantic comedy genre. By blending comic sequences with introspective observations on the impermanence of romance, it broke with traditional genre conventions—most notably by jettisoning the expected happy ending. Furthermore, the film employed various unusual narrative devices, such as characters directly addressing the audience, the use of split screens, and the inclusion of subtitles to reveal unspoken thoughts.12

These creative choices, combined with its status as a critical and popular favorite that won Academy Awards for best picture, director, and screenplay, solidified its reputation as a culturally and aesthetically significant work in America’s film heritage.314