Michael Jackson’s iconic 1983 “Thriller” video is officially a national treasure. The video is one of 25 films in the 2009 addition to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress – the first music video to be honored in such a way.

Steve Leggett, coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, said “Thriller” had been considered in the past but Jackson’s June death made the timing seem right.

“Because of the way the recording industry is evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift, which was the development of the music video,” said Leggett.

“Thriller” is still the subject of ongoing legal batles between the film’s director John Landis and late singer’s estate. Landis claims he is owed undisclosed royalties from the videos profits, and the lawsuits could make it more difficult for Congress to obtain an official version of the film.

The registry, meant to preserve films deemed “culturally, historically or esthetically” significant was established in 1989. With the 25 additions, it now totals 525 films.

Here’s a full list of the2009 additions:

• “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975)
• “The Exiles” (1961)
• “Heroes All” (1920)
• “Hot Dogs for Gauguin” (1972)
• “The Incredible Shrinking Man” (1957)
• “Jezebel” (1938)
• “The Jungle” (1967)
• “The Lead Shoes” (1949)
• “Little Nemo” (1911)
• “Mabel’s Blunder” (1914)
• “The Mark of Zorro” (1940)
• “Mrs. Miniver” (1942)
• “The Muppet Movie” (1979)
• “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968)
• “Pillow Talk” (1959)
• “Precious Images” (1986)
• “Quasi at the Quackadero” (1975)
• “The Red Book” (1994)
• “The Revenge of the Pancho Villa” (1930-36)
• “Scratch and Crow” (1995)
• “Stark Love” (1927)
• “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945)
• “A Study in Reds” (1932)
• “Thriller” (1983)
• “Under Western Stars” (1938)

- Alec Wooden