<P> In 1878 , Eadweard Muybridge demonstrated the power of photography to capture motion . In 1894 , the world 's first commercial motion - picture exhibition was given in New York City , using Thomas Edison 's kinetoscope . The United States produced the world 's first sync - sound musical film , The Jazz Singer , in 1927 , and was at the forefront of sound - film development in the following decades . Since the early 20th century , the US film industry has largely been based in and around the 30 Mile Zone in Hollywood , Los Angeles , California . Director D.W. Griffith was central to the development of a film grammar . Orson Welles 's Citizen Kane ( 1941 ) is frequently cited in critics ' polls as the greatest film of all time . </P>
<P> In 1878 , Eadweard Muybridge demonstrated the power of photography to capture motion . In 1894 , the world 's first commercial motion - picture exhibition was given in New York City , using Thomas Edison 's kinetoscope . The United States produced the world 's first sync - sound musical film , The Jazz Singer , in 1927 , and was at the forefront of sound - film development in the following decades . Since the early 20th century , the US film industry has largely been based in and around the 30 Mile Zone in Hollywood , Los Angeles , California . Director D.W. Griffith was central to the development of a film grammar . Orson Welles 's Citizen Kane ( 1941 ) is frequently cited in critics ' polls as the greatest film of all time . </P>
when was the first film made in america
when was the first film made in america
1894
1894