Feb 2, 2026 - News

Virginia couple's love story joins film preservation list

Karri Peifer

Mildred and Richard Loving, photographed in 1967. / Getty images — Mildred and Richard Loving, photographed in 1967. Photo: Getty images

"The Loving Story" — the 2011 documentary about the Virginia couple who paved the way for marriage equality — was one of 25 films added to the National Film Registry this week.

Why it matters: The honor recognizes movies deemed vital to preserving America's film heritage due to their "cultural, historical or aesthetic significance."

State of play: The doc used archival footage, personal photographs and real-life accounts to tell the love story of Richard Loving (a white man) and Mildred Loving (a Black and Native American woman).

The Caroline County couple's fight to be legally wed in 1960s Virginia led to the landmark Supreme Court case Loving vs. Virginia, which struck down state bans on interracial marriage.
"The Loving Story" will be preserved by The Library of Congress as part of America's film heritage, along with fellow 2025 inductees, "Clueless," "Inception" and "The Karate Kid."

What we're watching: You can stream "The Loving Story" on HBO Max or rent it on Prime and AppleTV.

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Virginia couple's love story joins film preservation list

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