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December 28, 1895: First Commercial Movie Screening by Lumière Brothers
The birth of cinema transforms entertainment forever
On December 28, 1895, the Lumière Brothers held the first commercial public movie screening in Paris, charging admission to show 10 short films and launching the modern cinema industry.
Key Facts
Historic Date
December 28, 1895
Location
Grand Café, Paris, France
Inventors
Auguste and Louis Lumière
Ticket Price
1 franc per person
First Audience
33 paying spectators
Films Shown
10 short films, about 50 seconds each
Famous Film
Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station
First Film
Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory
Camera Invention
Cinématographe patented 1895
Industry Impact
Launched global cinema industry
Revolutionary Feature
Camera, printer, and projector in one device
Cultural Legacy
Established movies as mass entertainment
About December 28, 1895: First Commercial Movie Screening by Lumière Brothers
On December 28, 1895, brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière made history by presenting the first commercial public screening of motion pictures at the Grand Café in Paris. This momentous event marked the birth of cinema as we know it today.
The Lumière Brothers' Revolutionary Invention
In the 1890s, inventors worldwide experimented with capturing and displaying moving images. In early 1895, they developed the Cinématographe, a remarkably elegant device that functioned as camera, film printer, and projector. The machine weighed only 5 kilograms, making it portable unlike Edison's bulky equipment.
The Historic First Screening Program
The Lumière Brothers carefully curated the program for the first commercial screening on December 28, 1895. They selected 10 short films, each approximately 50 seconds long, showcasing different subjects and demonstrating their camera's capabilities. This 50 second film showed a train pulling into a station, moving diagonally toward the camera.
Audience Reaction and Immediate Impact
The first screening on December 28, 1895, attracted only 33 paying customers despite the Grand Café's prime location on Boulevard des Capucines in central Paris. However, those 33 spectators spread word of the incredible experience they had witnessed. By January 1896, just weeks after the first screening, over 2,500 people per day crowded into the Grand Café basement to see the Lumière films.
Why the Lumière Invention Succeeded
The Cinématographe's portability allowed operators to film anywhere and project in any suitable venue. Edison's studio bound equipment restricted filming to controlled environments. The films required no special knowledge or education to appreciate.
The Birth of an Art Form and Industry
The December 28, 1895, screening launched more than a business or technology. It created an entirely new art form that would become the dominant cultural medium of the 20th century. The industry grew explosively in the early 20th century.
The Lumière Brothers' Remarkable Foresight and Limits
By 1905, just a decade after their historic screening, the Lumière Brothers had largely withdrawn from active filmmaking. Auguste and Louis both lived long lives, Auguste dying in 1954 and Louis in 1948. They saw the introduction of sound, color, special effects, and techniques far beyond anything they imagined in 1895.
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Historical Analysis
⚡Historical Significance
- •
The December 28, 1895 screening is recognized as the birth of commercial cinema.
- •
The Lumière Cinématographe succeeded where Edison's Kinetoscope failed by enabling group viewing.
- •
The event launched an industry that would become the dominant cultural medium of the 20th century.
📝Critical Reception
- •
The 33 initial attendees spread word of the incredible experience, creating immediate demand.
- •
Auguste Lumière famously declared cinema an invention without a future, spectacularly misjudging his creation.
- •
Early observers recognized the technology's novelty but few imagined its cultural impact.
🌍Cultural Impact
- •
Cinema became the first mass visual entertainment medium in human history.
- •
The movie industry eventually shaped culture, politics, and social norms worldwide.
- •
Film preservation became a major concern as the medium's historical importance was recognized.
Before & After
📅Before
Before December 28, 1895, moving images existed only as curiosities viewed individually through peepholes. No technology existed for sharing film experiences with groups.
🚀After
After the Lumière screening, cinema exploded globally within months. The brothers' operators traveled worldwide, and within a decade movies had become a major industry and cultural force.
💡
Did You Know?
•
The first commercial movie screening on December 28, 1895, attracted only 33 people but grew to 2,500 daily within weeks
•
The Lumière Brothers showed 10 films on opening night, each about 50 seconds long including the famous train arrival
•
The Cinématographe weighed only 5 kilograms and functioned as camera, printer, and projector in one portable device
•
Auguste Lumière famously declared cinema an invention without a future, spectacularly misjudging their own creation
•
Tickets to the first movie screening cost one franc making cinema accessible to working class audiences
•
The Lumière Brothers sent operators worldwide after their Paris success, spreading cinema to London, New York, and Bombay
⭐
Why It Still Matters Today
•
The global film industry generates over $100 billion annually
•
Movies remain a primary form of cultural expression and entertainment worldwide
•
The Lumière films are preserved as priceless historical documents
•
December 28 is celebrated as the birthday of cinema in film history
🧠
Test Your Knowledge
How much do you know? Take this quick quiz to find out!
1. When was the first commercial movie screening?
2. How many people attended the first screening?
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Original Insights
•
The entire first screening program lasted about 20 minutes with 10 films of roughly 50 seconds each
•
The legend that audiences fled from the approaching train is likely exaggerated but reflects genuine amazement
•
The Lumière Brothers sent operators worldwide within months, rapidly globalizing cinema
Frequently Asked Questions
The first commercial public movie screening occurred on December 28, 1895, when the Lumière Brothers showed 10 short films at the Grand Café in Paris. They charged one franc admission to 33 paying spectators. This event is recognized as the birth of commercial cinema though earlier private demonstrations had occurred.
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Sources & References
This article is reviewed by the Pagefacts team.
Editorial Approach:
This article examines how 33 people paying one franc each to watch 20 minutes of film launched an industry that would dominate 20th century culture.
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