A Trip to the Moon is based on two popular novels from that period: From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne and The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells. The black-and-white science fiction film from 1902 has since become a canonical work. The French film was hugely popular upon its original release and used animation and visual effects that were very innovative at the time. 

During a meeting of astronomers, their chairman proposes a trip to the moon. After some opposition, six brave astronauts agree to the plan. They build a bullet-shaped capsule and a huge cannon to shoot it into space. A group of ‘marines’ (mostly women in sailor suits) launch the contraption. The man on the moon sees the capsule approaching and it hits him in the eye—one of the most famous shots in film history.

Like many other films by Méliès, A Trip to the Moon was sold in both black-and-white and hand-coloured versions. The only known hand-coloured copy was rediscovered in 1993 and later restored. This restored version finally premiered in Cannes in 2011, 109 years after its original release.