It is recognized as one of the first sci-fi genre films and for animation.
Méliès had intended on releasing the film into the United States to profit from it, however, Thomas A. Edison's film technicians had secretly made copies of it and distributed it throughout the country thus putting money into Edison's pocket. Méliès never profited from it and eventually went broke.
The film is paid homage to in The Smashing Pumpkins' promotional video for their song Tonight, Tonight where a personal tribute to the film's maker can be seen on the side of steam ship called the "SS Méliès".
