Fact Finder - Movies

In 1903, Edwin S. Porter’s 'The Great Train Robbery' became the first true 'blockbuster' in cinema history. While only 12 minutes long, it introduced audiences to innovative techniques like cross-cutting (showing two scenes happening at once) and location shooting. The film was a massive commercial success, traveling across the country and playing in nickelodeons. Its most famous shot—a bandit firing his pistol directly at the camera—reportedly caused audiences to scream and duck in their seats. This film established the Western and the Action genre as the dominant commercial forces in the fledgling movie industry, proving that thrill-seeking was a primary motivator for moviegoers.