Year: 1902
Country: France
Director: Georges Méliès
Length: 14 minutes
IMDb
Though only 14 minutes in length, this movie was long compared to the usual 2-minute films of the time. Its special effects were also new and impressive, and it is considered the first true science fiction film.
I had this movie on a DVD called Landmarks of Early Film, and it included the narration (which was written to be read alongside the movie, but which apparently has often been left out). I'm glad I had that, because it made it possible to understand what was actually going on. The result was an enjoyable 14 minutes. The effects were actually pretty cool, and the plot had me laughing, particularly when the humans and easily-destroyed Selenites just automatically started fighting each other (no Star Trek-style first contact attempts here).
This film unquestionably belongs on the list.
