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The First Science Fiction Movie Is Over 120 Years Old
Sci-fi movies have been around for a long time, but the first science-fiction movie is over 120 years old. Despite science fiction not being an established genre back then, the first sci-fi movie has many features of the genre, and is credited with being the inspiration for future sci-fi movies because of its ground-breaking use of special effects both through the use of the camera and props. The first sci-fi movie being from the silent era is shocking in itself, but the impact it had on sci-fi movies can be an even greater surprise, given the limited number of people who know about the movie now.
Sci-fi as a genre has changed and developed massively in the past century, with iconic franchises such as Star Trek becoming foundations for how space and alien worlds are portrayed. There are multiple different ways sci-fi is explored; from alien invasions like in Alien and Independence Day to sci-fi being more specifically about science and technological development, such as in Back To The Future. Although there is some split between sci-fi and space fantasy, as the popularity of sci-fi has developed the genres have merged to all be classed as sci-fi, whether the movie includes realistic science or fantastical alien worlds.
What Is The First Science Fiction Movie
The first science fiction movie is the 1902 French silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune, or A Trip to the Moon. Directed and written by, and starring, Georges Méliès, the A Trip to the Moon movie is the first depiction of a lunar expedition and the plot follows a group of astronauts being shot into space by a giant canon made by a group of scientists. On arrival, the astronauts go to sleep and are captured by moon-dwelling Selenites. They manage to escape and return to Earth, bringing a Selenite with them, and are met with parades and celebrations.
A Trip to the Moon is a short, silent film, although at 14 minutes it was considered long for the time, and it uses many sci-fi ideas and imagery that now define the genre. A Trip to the Moon was not initially considered sci-fi, but that mainly is due to sci-fi not being an established genre in film back then, and because Méliès was famously fantastical with his movies. A Trip to the Moon is no exception, and the plot and effects did not take pains to be a scientifically accurate sci-fi movie. However, A Trip to the Moon did draw inspiration from famous science fiction writers Jules Verne and H. G. Wells.
Why Some Say "A Trip To The Moon" Is Not Science Fiction
A Trip to the Moon is considered the first science fiction movie by most - but some say it is not science fiction, because it is not based on any realistic form of science, classing it more as a space fantasy. A Trip to the Moon features classic elements of the current sci-fi genre, such as aliens and sleek rockets, that would now be considered sci-fi because of how the genre has developed. However, some people do not classify films such as Star Wars as sci-fi because the science in it lacks plausibility, the same way A Trip to the Moon is not realistic with its science - highlighting how differently the genre is considered amongst audiences, as many would consider it a quintessential sci-fi series.
Also, the sci-fi genre labeling of the film is skewered due to the satirical message of A Trip to the Moon and Méliès not intending to invent a genre. The fantastical space journey led by Professor Barbenfouillis (Méliès) is meant to be a satire of Victorian values, knocking the reckless industrial revolutionaries of the Western World. Everything from treating the Selenites like savages to stabbing the Man in the Moon in the eye with a rocket was made to mock men of science and regard them as destructive fools. Although A Trip to the Moon uses a story about space, it was not intended to be a scientific story.
Where You Can Watch "A Trip To The Moon"
Despite some views on what genre A Trip to the Moon falls under, it is a revolutionary movie for the sci-fi genre and cinema as a whole, and its fantastical elements mean it has aged better than more recent sci-fi movies which attempt to be too realistic. This also means that A Trip to the Moon is still watched and appreciated by audiences today, and is widely available on various platforms. A Trip to the Moon can be bought or rented on Amazon video, however, it can also be streamed on Arrow or FilmBox+ if audiences have subscriptions with them.
A Trip to the Moon is also available for free on the BFI player, or on various channels across YouTube. A Trip to the Moon is a fantastic look into the history of cinema, and watching it reveals many sci-fi tropes which are still in strong standing today. A Trip to the Moon’s mix of fantasy and satire may raise questions about its standing in the sci-fi genre, but its impact on the genre and sci-fi films even now makes it unquestionably the first sci-fi movie. Plus, A Trip to the Moon has outlasted many new sci-fi movies in terms of rewatch value, only proving its standing as the first sci-fi movie even more.
