In 1894 and 1895, he and his brother Louis invented an animated photographic camera and projection device, the cinematograph, which met with worldwide success.

He attended the Martinière Technical School and worked as a manager at the photographic company of his father, Claude-Antoine Lumière.

He was invited to attend a demonstration of the Kinetoscope invented by Thomas Edison, which inspired his and his brother's work on the cinematograph.

[2] The brothers screened their first film using this device in December 1895, and following the success of this initial venture opened a number of cinemas worldwide.

However, Auguste was skeptical of the potential of the device, remarking "My invention can be exploited... as a scientific curiosity, but apart from that it has no commercial value whatsoever".