The films selected for the Lumière brothers' December 28, 1895 commercial screening were meant to showcase the strengths of the movie camera.

Animation existed BEFORE live action films, movement was not the gimmick, realism was.

Film #1:

The next film includes a simple narrative with a beginning, middle and end. Garden hose humor was quite the thing in the Gilded Age.

Again, note the real garden setting for the audience to drink in.

Film #2

We follow up with a picture very similar to the opening number. The disembarking passengers are aware of the camera and look directly into it.

Film #3

Animals enter the cinematic equation and have never left. Trick riders vault over an incredibly patient horse. The horse, presumably: "No, sir, I don't like it."

Film #4

Little Andrée Lumiere, daughter of Auguste, makes her debut scooping some defenseless goldfish out of their bowl. The childish spontaneity surely added to the film's appeal.

Film #5

We return to the working class with these blacksmiths. The forge's realism contrasted with the motion pictures released by the Edison film company.

Film #6

Edison's 1893 blacksmith film was shot in his small indoor studio. While important, the film has a claustrophobic quality that is evident when compared to the Lumière pictures.

Auguste Lumière's family returns. Andrée Lumière offers her teething biscuit around and audiences have been melting for over a century.

Film #7

Another comedy with a would-be acrobat attempting to leap into a blanket. This one lacks the narrative drive of THE SPRINKLER SPRINKLED but the stunts are fun.

Film #8

A street scene in Lyon. This has a more voyeuristic quality as the camera was set further back and the people being filmed seem unaware.

Film #9

The swimsuit edition! Somewhere, a teenage Mack Sennett was probably taking notes.

Film #10

Those are the ten films from the 1895 screening. If you'd like some more context on motion entertainment of the time, do check out this presentation of animation from 1833 to 1897.

https://www.cinematheque.fr/henri/film/144818-incunables-de-l-animation-auteurs-divers-1833-1897/

It's very important to remember that magic lantern shows, animated toys, stage presentations, singing, dancing, expositions and all kinds of entertainment were everywhere when the movies were first projected. Movies needed to surpass these rivals.