Before CGI spectacles and billion-dollar franchises, every major leap in cinema began with a first — the first moving picture, the first talkie, the first color film, and beyond. These groundbreaking moments didn’t just entertain; they redefined what movies could be. From silent screens to digital dreams, this list dives into 50 cinematic firsts that shaped the art, technology, and culture of film as we know it.
1 Dirty Dancing’s Unexpected Success
Test audiences hated “Dirty Dancing” (1987). The producer was so disappointed in the final product that he exclaimed, “Burn the negative, and collect the insurance.” Though everyone expected it to bomb at the box office, it became a smash hit, the #1 video rental of 1988, and the first film to sell a million copies on video.
2. George Lucas chose not to include opening credits in “Star Wars” (1977), which was one of the first films to do so. Consequently, the Directors Guild of America fined him $250,000 for not crediting himself, prompting Lucas to resign.
3. Audiences in the early silent film era often didn’t care about actors’ credits. However, in 1910, Mary Pickford’s immense popularity led cinemas to specially advertise her films, making her the world’s first movie star.
4. Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room” (2003) became the first movie ever shot simultaneously in both 35mm film and HD.
5. James Cameron directed “True Lies” (1994), the first movie with a budget of at least $100 million, and “Titanic” (1997), the first with a budget of at least $200 million, setting new financial benchmarks in the film industry.
6 Cagney’s Stand Against Live Ammo
In the 1932 film “Taxi,” James Cagney not only showcased his famous dancing but also became the first actor to refuse being shot at with live ammo-a common practice then due to cost savings over blanks.
7. In 1939, RKO Pictures offered Orson Welles what’s generally considered the greatest filmmaker contract in history, granting him full creative control to write, produce, direct, and perform in two films. His first film under this contract was “Citizen Kane” (1941).
8. Stargate (1994) became the first movie to have an official website, marking a significant step in the digital promotion of films.
9. The Library of Congress considers “Blazing Saddles” (1974) historically significant as it was the first major studio film to feature a fart scene.
10. The first-ever 3D movie was “The Power of Love” (1922), a silent film that also introduced an alternative ending. Viewers could choose between happy and sad endings, both shot in 2D, by closing one eye or the other.
11 Quicksand’s Cinematic Influence
The first known movie-related accidental deaths occurred when two actors drowned in quicksand and died while filming Across the Border in 1914. This incident largely contributed to Hollywood’s long-standing obsession with quicksand as a cinematic danger.
12. Twister (1996) holds the distinction of being the first movie ever to be released on DVD.
13. Psycho (1960) became the first film to show a toilet flushing on screen.
14. NBC’s broadcast of “Schindler’s List” (1993) marked the first time a film received a TV-M rating and aired unedited. The broadcast sparked controversy, with a Republican congressman complaining it was an “all-time low, with full-frontal nudity, violence, and profanity,” and calling it “an insult to decent-minded individuals everywhere.”
15. Walt Disney’s 1946 film “The Story of Menstruation” was the first movie to use the word “vagina.”
16 Clerks’ Soundtrack Cost
The movie “Clerks” (1994) made history as the first film where the cost to license the soundtrack exceeded the production cost of the entire movie.
17. Disney’s “Fantasia” (1940) was the first film to feature surround sound, with up to six channels. Some versions of ‘Fantasound’ required 52 speakers.
18. The first film about the Titanic disaster was released just 29 days after the ship sank. It starred an actress who was a real-life survivor of the event. Unfortunately, it is considered a ‘lost film’ after all copies were destroyed in a fire in 1914.
19. Thomas Edison became one of the first movie pirates when he stole prints of Georges Méliès’ “A Trip to the Moon” (1902) and distributed them in the United States. Shortly afterward, Méliès went bankrupt.
20. The first movie shown in a theater setting was “Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Station”in 1895. Featuring a train approaching from a distance, it caused panic in the audience as they tried to run away because they thought a train was going to come out of the screen.
15 Most Controversial & Costly Blunders in History
21 First Movie Watched on ISS
The first movie ever watched aboard the ISS by astronauts was “The Sixth Sense” (1999), but nobody really enjoyed it.
22. In 1978, “The Deer Hunter” became the first film to use the Oscars as a marketing tool. Although initially too depressing for the box office, the film held screenings for critics and Academy members. It secured nine nominations and won Best Picture, which then contributed to its commercial success.
23. The first movie released by DreamWorks was not an animated film. It was a live-action thriller titled “The Peacemaker” (1997).
24. James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) became the first movie whose entire production budget was fully financed through product placement.
25. One of the earliest films recorded on Thomas Edison’s Kinetograph featured two cats wearing boxing gloves fighting in a ring. Titled “Prof. Welton’s Boxing Cats,” it likely represents the first-ever cat video.
