The Greatest Films From Every Year

The greatest films from every year in cinema history. The year-by-year best movies lists start in the 19th Century and continue through time.

The Creation of Cinema

The creation of cinema is a story of murder, mystery, and miraculous invention. The forerunners of the "Seventh Art" evolved over hundreds of years.

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1890's Greatest Films

Look back at the dawn of cinema with the five greatest films of the year 1890. 19th Century cameras captured the world in amazing ways.

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1891's Greatest Films

In 1891, there were two centers of filmmaking, an American center and a French center. These are 1891's greatest films, from both sides of the Atlantic.

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1892's Greatest Films

The art of film took a big leap forward in 1892, with the first publicly-shown animated film & the first real narrative film.

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1893's Greatest Films

1893 marks important milestones in the history of film. The first studio and first paid actors were part of Thomas Edison's plan to monetize the new tech.

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1894's Greatest Films

The world's first sound film and the world's first cat video were both released this year.

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1895's Greatest Films

A paying audience attended a screening of a film for the first time in history in 1895. The Lumière Brothers patented their cinematography this same year.

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1896's Greatest Films

Georges Méliès and Alice Guy-Blaché really made their marks in 1896. The now-legendary directors made some of 1896's greatest films.

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1897's Greatest Films

Georges Méliès made a war film and a "blue film" this year, and a boxing match at which Wyatt Earp was present was filmed.

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1898's Greatest Films

Georges Méliès was in rare form in 1898, creating some of the world's classic short films.

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1899's Greatest Films

Georges Méliès released three masterpieces this year, including his best early fairy tale.

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