National Film RegistryLibrary of Congress · Inducted 2019
“A hilarious, in-your-face, bawdy-yet-provocative look at two sardonic young slackers (Dante and Randal). One toils as a New Jersey convenience store clerk while his alter-ego video store friend works when the mood strikes him.”
Selected for preservation as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
Directed by
Kevin Smith
Studio
Miramax · View Askew Productions · 92 min
Box office
$3.2M worldwide on a $28K budget
Honors
Sundance Filmmaker Trophy Dramatic — 1 winAll 1 wins · 0 nominations on record
Sources: Wikidata · Library of Congress · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Clerks arrived in 1994 as a black and white miracle of low budget filmmaking, shot after hours in the very Quick Stop convenience store where Kevin Smith worked. Made for pocket change and distributed by Miramax after a strong Sundance reception, it became a touchstone of American independent cinema, prized for its dialogue driven humor and its refusal to romanticize retail work. The film's success helped define the View Askewniverse and launched Smith's career.
This cell preserves a Quick Stop Customer moment, one of the small transactional encounters that give the film its texture. The Egg Man and Egg Customer exchange, played by Walt Flanagan, is a recognizable beat among fans who track the store's parade of oddball patrons. Cells like this appeal to collectors interested in the ensemble's minor players rather than only Dante and Randal, capturing the everyday commerce that anchors the film's comedy.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm black-and-white optical-track release print of Clerks (1994).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, evenly spaced, cleanly punched with no torn or deformed holes visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible running along one edge beside the picture area, appearing as a single bilateral variable-area track.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to read manufacturer text or key numbers.
Base & colour
Base appears neutral to very slightly warm; the black-and-white silver image shows no visible colour shift or fading.
Projection history
Light longitudinal lines consistent with projection are visible across the frame area; no splices or cue marks seen.
Picture
Positive black-and-white image; all three frames appear to be from the same continuous shot, consistent with a release print of Clerks (1994).
Era check
A single bilateral variable-area optical track on a 35mm black-and-white positive is consistent with a mid-1990s theatrical release print of this film.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000063069
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
