Earliest Surviving Movies
by TARDIS_Tech_Support | created - 24 Mar 2023 | updated - 24 Mar 2023 | PublicExcluding lost films. I wanted a list of films I could watch online, probably on YouTube.
I stopped at 1896, since there are over 800 titles that year: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?year=1896
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Roundhay Garden Scene (1888)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
In the garden, a man asks his friends to do something silly for him to record on film.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince | Stars: Annie Hartley, Adolphe Le Prince, Joseph Whitley, Sarah Whitley
Votes: 6,803
2. Traffic Crossing Leeds Bridge (1888)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A shot of people walking on The Leeds Bridge.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince
Votes: 3,299
3. Accordion Player (1888)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A very brief film of a man playing the accordion.
Director: Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince | Star: Adolphe Le Prince
Votes: 1,459
4. Pferd und Reiter Springen über ein Hindernis (1888)
1 min | Short
A horse with rider jumping over an obstacle
Director: Ottomar Anschütz
Votes: 445
5. Leisurely Pedestrians, Open Topped Buses and Hansom Cabs with Trotting Horses (1889)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Alleged silent black-and-white short film shot at Apsley Gate, Hyde Park, London.
Director: William Friese-Greene
Votes: 486
6. Monkeyshines, No. 1 (1890)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
One of W.K.L. Dickson's laboratory workers horses around for the camera.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 1,648
7. Monkeyshines, No. 2 (1890)
1 min | Short
In an experiment that follows up on the results of 'Monkeyshines, No. 1', an Edison company worker again moves around in front of the motion picture camera.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 1,198
8. Mosquinha (1890)
1 min | Short
Shot of the flight of a fly.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 745
9. London's Trafalgar Square (1890)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A shot of Trafalgar Square.
Directors: William Carr Crofts, Wordsworth Donisthorpe
Votes: 916
10. Traffic in King's Road, Chelsea (1890)
Short
Lost film from 1890, directed by William Friese-Greene.
Director: William Friese-Greene
Votes: 243
11. Monkeyshines, No. 3 (1890)
1 min | Short
An Edison company worker makes large gestures in front of a Kinetoscope to test the new camera system.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Giuseppe Sacco Albanese
Votes: 481
12. Men Boxing (1891)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Action
Two men wearing boxing gloves prepare to spar in the Edison Company studio.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 1,112
13. Newark Athlete (1891)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Sport
An athlete swings Indian clubs.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 1,816
14. Dickson Greeting (1891)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
The very first American film shown to public audiences and the press. It depicts William K.L. Dickson taking off his hat and greeting the audience.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 1,569
15. Duncan Smoking (1891)
1 min | Short
Short, experimental film depicting James C. Duncan smoking a pipe.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: James C. Duncan
Votes: 197
16. Je vous aime (1891)
1 min | Short
Medium close-up of a man saying "Je vous aime".
Director: Georges Demenÿ | Star: Georges Demenÿ
Votes: 400
17. Duncan and Another, Blacksmith Shop (1891)
Short
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: James C. Duncan
Votes: 146
18. Two Fencers (1891)
1 min | Short, Sport
Shot of two people fencing.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 382
19. Duncan or Devonald with Muslin Cloud (1891)
Short
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Fred C. Devonald, James C. Duncan
Votes: 136
20. La vague (1891)
1 min | Short
In this early film experiment a wave crashes against a jagged rock.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 513
21. Monkey and Another, Boxing (1891)
Documentary, Short
Short film featuring two monkeys fighting.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 137
22. Pauvre Pierrot (1892)
TV-PG | 5 min | Animation, Comedy, Short
One night, Arlequin come to see his lover Colombine. But then Pierrot knocks at the door and Colombine and Arlequin hide. Pierrot starts singing but Arlequin scares him and the poor man goes away.
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 2,006
23. Le clown et ses chiens (1892)
5 min | Animation, Short
Lost short film consisting of 300 painted images. It shows a clown entering a circus ring and greeting the audience before he starts to perform tricks with three dogs. The dogs jump through hoops, walk on a ball and jump over a wand.
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 275
24. Fencing (1892)
1 min | Short, Sport
Experimental film to test the new kinetoscope which depicts two men practicing fencing.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 574
25. Un bon bock (1892)
12 min | Animation, Short
Lost 1892 French short animated film directed by Émile Reynaud about a wanderer who orders a good beer ("Un bon bock") and meets a traveler who also orders a beer. They enter an argument because a kitchen boy steals their beers.
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 179
26. Man on Parallel Bars (1892)
1 min | Short, Sport
Lost film directed by William K.L. Dickson. Presented by Edison Manufacturing Company.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 161
27. A Hand Shake (1892)
1 min | Short
Two men shake hands for the Kinetograph.
Stars: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 613
28. Le prince de Galles (1902)
Documentary, Short
This short documentary is a mini-biography of Edward VII, then Prince of Wales and heir apparent to the throne of England. Because his mother, Queen Victoria, reigned for such an unusually ... See full summary »
Director: Louis Lumière | Star: King Edward VII
Votes: 199
30. Wrestling (1892)
Short, Sport
A lost film, directed by William K.L. Dickson about two men wrestling.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 145
31. Blacksmith Scene (1893)
Unrated | 1 min | Short, Comedy
Three men hammer on an anvil and pass a bottle of beer around.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Charles Kayser, John Ott
Votes: 2,771
32. Rabbits (1893)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Rabbits jump, play and interact with each other in multiple different sequences.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 151
33. Horse Shoeing (1893)
1 min | Documentary, Short
One of the pictures to be seen in the machine, for example, was that of a blacksmith shop in which two men were working, one shoeing a horse, the other heating iron at the forge. One would ... See full summary »
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 265
34. Carmencita (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Performing on what looks like a small wooden stage, wearing a dress with a hoop skirt and white high-heeled pumps, Carmencita does a dance with kicks and twirls, a smile always on her face.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Carmencita
Votes: 2,052
35. Miss Jerry (1894)
45 min | Romance
The adventures of a female reporter in the 1890s.
Director: Alexander Black | Stars: Blanche Bayliss, William Courtenay, Chauncey Depew
Votes: 211
36. Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Music
The earliest extant sound film. William K.L. Dickson stands in the background next to a huge sound pickup horn connected to a Thomas Edison phonograph recorder. As he plays a violin, two ... See full summary »
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 2,563
37. The Boxing Cats (Prof. Welton's) (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Action, Comedy
"A glove contest between trained cats. A very comical and amusing subject, and is sure to create a great laugh." (by Edison Films)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Henry Welton
Votes: 1,441
38. Edison Kinetoscope Records: Annie Oakley (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
Annie Oakley, the 'Little Miss Sure Shot' of the 'Wild West' gives an exhibition of rifle shooting at glass balls and clay pigeons in a film from the Edison Catalog.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Francis E. Butler, Annie Oakley
Votes: 1,492
40. Buffalo Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
Three Sioux Indians perform a 'buffalo dance', while two others use drums to supply a rhythm. The three dancers move around in a circle as they perform the various actions that are part of the dance.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Hair Coat, Parts His Hair, Last Horse
Votes: 1,035
41. Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze (1894)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A man (Thomas Edison's assistant) takes a pinch of snuff and sneezes. This is one of the earliest Thomas Edison films and was the first motion picture to be copyrighted in the United States.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Fred Ott
Votes: 2,194
42. Annabelle Butterfly Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Annabelle (Whitford) Moore performs one of her popular dances. For this performance, her costume has a pair of wings attached to her back, to suggest a butterfly. As she dances, she uses her long, flowing skirts to create visual patterns.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 998
43. Buffalo Bill (1894)
1 min | Short, Western
"The famous army scout in an exhibition of rifle shooting. A fine picture of the principal, and beautiful smoke effects."
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Buffalo Bill Cody
Votes: 100
44. Sandow: The Strong Man (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Eugen Sandow, who claims to be the strongest man in the world, appears in the Edison Company's film studio.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Eugen Sandow
Votes: 1,232
45. The Barbershop (1893)
1 min | Documentary, Short
Customer gets a lightning-fast shave.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 1,208
46. Autour d'une cabine (1894)
2 min | Animation, Short
Pre-cinematograph colour animation of a woman and man at the beach.
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 1,172
47. Chinese Laundry Scene (1894)
1 min | Short, Comedy
The pursuit of Hop Lee by an irate policeman.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Phil Doreto, Robetta
Votes: 613
48. Sioux Ghost Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Western
A group of Sioux Indians from Buffalo Bill's Wild West exhibition demonstrates a dance called a "ghost dance".
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 818
49. The Cock Fight (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short
Two gamecocks fight in the Edison Company film studio. This feature was remade later in the same year, with additional detail added.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 650
50. Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Sport
James J. Corbett and Peter Courtney meet in a boxing exhibition.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: James J. Corbett, Peter Courtney
Votes: 859
51. Leonard-Cushing Fight (1894)
1 min | Documentary, Short, Sport
In the background, five fans lean on the ropes looking into the ring. The referee is to the left; like the fans, he hardly moves as two fighters swing roundhouse blows at each other. Mike ... See full summary »
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Jack Cushing, Mike Leonard
Votes: 509
52. Imperial Japanese Dance (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
A charming representation of the Mikado dance by three beautiful Japanese ladies in full costume. Very effective when colored. (from the Edison Catalog)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: The Sarashe Sisters
Votes: 668
53. Falling Cat (1894)
1 min | Short
A cat falls down and lands on its feet.
Director: Étienne-Jules Marey
Votes: 961
54. Band Drill (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Comedy
A scene from Charles Hoyt's 'A Milk White Flag': A brass band marches out, led by bandmaster Steele Ayers. When Ayers reaches his position, he turns around and directs the musicians as they take up their own positions.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Fred W. Boardman, William Cushing, Ad Dorsch, E.P. Brown
Votes: 566
55. Caicedo (with Pole) (1894)
Unrated | 1 min | Short
"King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home." (from Edison Films)
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Juan A. Caicedo
Votes: 919
56. Luis Martinetti, Contortionist (1894)
Unrated | 1 min | Short
Luis Martinetti, a contortionist suspended from acrobatic flying rings, contorts himself for about thirty seconds. This is one of the first films made for Edison's kinetoscopes.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Luis Martinetti
Votes: 713
57. A Bar Room Scene (1894)
Short
"Showing the wind-up of a political discussion. Dramatis personae: A Democrat, a Republican, a Bar Maid, and a Policeman."
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 87
58. Hadj Cheriff (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
Hadj Cheriff, a performer known for a variety of unusual abilities, demonstrates part of his act in the Edison studio.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Hadj Cheriff
Votes: 552
59. Bucking Broncho (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Western
A fine exhibition of horsemanship by Lee Martin, a genuine cowboy. This particular broncho is an unusually wicked one. (from Edison Films)
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: Frank Hammitt, Lee Martin, Sunfish
Votes: 753
60. Cock Fight, No. 2 (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short
Two gamecocks are fighting inside a wire cage, while two spectators look on in the background. The two men agree to make a bet on the outcome. One of them shows his money to the other, who is commenting on the fight.
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Star: Henry Welton
Votes: 498
61. Fire Rescue Scene (1894)
1 min | Drama, Short
"Firemen in working uniform, rubber coats, helmets, and boots. Thrilling rescue from burning building. Smoke effects are fine." - from the Edison Catalog
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise
Votes: 623
62. Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing) (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Documentary, Short, Sport
The Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete", which depicts a boxer with a classic style trying to contend with an opponent who uses a very unorthodox approach.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: The Glenroy Brothers
Votes: 851
63. Mexican Knife Duel (1894)
Short, Action, Western
Two Mexican men duel with knives.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Pedro Esquivel, Dionecio Gonzales
Votes: 47
64. The Hornbacker-Murphy Fight (1894)
1 min | Short, Sport
A referee and five fans (including a waiter in his apron) look on as two young men box. The dark-haired, slightly taller boxer throws a right and the light-haired smaller one goes down; but... See full summary »
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Eugene Hornbacker, Murphy
Votes: 364
65. Glenroy Bros., No. 2 (1894)
1 min | Short, Comedy
The Glenroy Brothers perform a portion of their vaudeville act, "The Comic View of Boxing: The Tramp & the Athlete".
Directors: William K.L. Dickson, William Heise | Stars: The Glenroy Brothers, Thomas Glenroy, William Glrenroy
Votes: 522
66. Autour d'une cabine ou Mésaventures d'un copurchic aux bains de mer (1894)
5 min | Animation, Short
Director: Émile Reynaud
Votes: 31
67. Annabelle Sun Dance (1894)
1 min | Short
Annabelle Moore performs her Sun Dance.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 297
68. Annabelle Serpentine Dance (1894)
Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Annabelle Moore
Votes: 24
69. Ruth Dennis (1894)
Short
"Said to be the Champion High Kicker of the World."
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Ruth St. Denis
Votes: 40
70. Athlete with Wand (1894)
Not Rated | 1 min | Short, Sport
A gymnast assumes a number of positions while holding a wand in both hands.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 620
72. The Pickaninny Dance, from the 'Passing Show' (1894)
1 min | Documentary, Short
A scene representing Southern plantation life before the war. A jig and a breakdown by three colored boys.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Joe Rastus, Denny Tolliver, Walter Wilkins
Votes: 278
74. Walton and Slavin No. 3 (1894)
Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: John Slavin, Charles F. Walton
Votes: 27
75. Highland Dance (1894)
Short
A couple performs a Highland Fling.
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 57
76. Rat Killing (1894)
Documentary, Short
"'Dick the Rat' and his rat-terrier. The dog is turned loose among a lot of big, live rats, and kills them in lightning order."
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Dick the Rat
Votes: 49
77. Lasso Thrower (1894)
Short, Action, Western
Champion Lasso Thrower Vicente Oropeza (aka. Vincente Ore Passo/Bisento Orapeso/Vincenti Orapazza) shows his skills.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Vicente Oropeza
Votes: 52
78. Unsuccessful Somersault (1894)
Short
One of the series gives successive pictures of an athlete in an unsuccessful attempt to turn a somersault. Everybody who has seen a boy perform this act knows the brief space of time it ... See full summary »
Director: William K.L. Dickson
Votes: 70
79. Haycart Crossing Hadley Green, Middlesex (1894)
Documentary, Short
Director: Birt Acres
Votes: 36
81. Cupid's Dance (1894)
Short
Three beautiful girls La Regloncita, La Graciosa and La Preciosa in a charming dance.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Florence Ewer, Lenora Ewer, Mildred Ewer
Votes: 57
87. Topack and Steele (1894)
Comedy, Short
Lively political debate, representing [Grover] Cleveland and [Benjamin] Harrison.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: George W. Steele, George Topack
Votes: 43
89. Whirlwind Gun Spinning (1894)
Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Hadj Lessik
Votes: 41
91. Lasso Exhibition (1894)
Documentary, Short
Men return at a station from an exhibition.
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Frank Hammitt, Lee Martin
Votes: 46
92. Sandow No. 2 (1894)
Documentary, Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Eugen Sandow
Votes: 64
93. Caicedo (with Spurs) (1894)
Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Juan A. Caicedo
Votes: 100
96. Wonderful Performing Dog (1894)
Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Stars: Lucy the Dog, Ivan Tschernoff
Votes: 30
97. Sandow No. 3 (1894)
Documentary, Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: Eugen Sandow
Votes: 63
98. Fancy Club Swinger (1894)
Documentary, Short
Director: William K.L. Dickson | Star: John R. Abell
Votes: 67
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