Cinema of Attractions

The "Cinema of Attractions" is a term coined by film scholar Tom Gunning to describe the earliest era of filmmaking, spanning roughly from 1885 to the 1910s. During this time, movies were not designed to tell complex stories, but rather to function as thrilling visual spectacles. Like a fairground ride or a magic trick, these films sought to astonish and captivate audiences simply by showcasing the technological miracle of moving images, often directly acknowledging the viewer to maximize the shock and awe of the experience.