What year is commonly associated with the invention of motion pictures?

The year commonly associated with the invention of motion pictures is 1895. In that year, the Lumière brothers showcased their cinematograph in Paris, marking a pivotal moment in film history as it allowed for the projection of moving images to an audience. This event is often considered the birth of cinema as a public exhibition medium.

While 1891 is an important year as well, particularly with the development of devices like Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope, it didn’t lead to a public exhibition of moving images. The other years mentioned—1903 and 1927—are more significant for specific advancements in film, such as narrative storytelling and the introduction of synchronized sound, but they do not represent the initial invention of motion pictures. Therefore, 1895 holds the crucial significance in establishing motion pictures as we recognize them today.