Astronauts in a cannon blast to the moon, fight bug-eyed moon men, and return with a captive.

Created in 1902, Georges Méliès's A Trip to the Moon (1902), a whirlwind adventure to the lunar surface, throws out the rulebook and embraces theatrical trickery and fantastical imagery to bring Méliès's vision to life.

This silent film relies heavily on special effects, then in their infancy. Méliès, a magician by trade, utilized innovative techniques like hand-painted sets, multiple exposures, and stop-motion animation to create groundbreaking visuals. The iconic image of the spaceship lodged in the Moon's eye is a testament to his ingenuity.

Beyond its technical marvels, A Trip to the Moon embodies the experimental spirit of early cinema. Méliès draws inspiration from popular science fiction novels but injects a healthy dose of humor and theatricality. The film's narrative structure is loose, prioritizing spectacle and wonder over a tightly woven plot.

A Trip to the Moon's enduring legacy lies in its audacity. It dared to push the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking, paving the way for generations of experimental filmmakers to come.