Welcome vaporist. We will explore the films in the Steampunk genre or heavily influenced by it.
Steampunk is a combination of fantasy and science fiction , often creating works that are hugely successful. With the overwhelming impact of writers like Jules Verne , Robert Louis Stevenson and HG Wells, there is a singular but undoubtedly inventive universe. Terry Gilliam, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Katsuhiro Ohtomo, Karel Zeman and Hayao Miyazaki have used it to make the best steampunk films .
Key points
🎬 Iconic Films : Iconic works like “A Trip to the Moon” and “Hugo Cabret” that defined the Steampunk genre.
đź“ś Literary adaptations : Several films are based on classic novels by Jules Verne, HG Wells and others, adding narrative depth to the genre.
đźš‚ Retro-futuristic technology : A creative use of Victorian-era technology, featuring steam engines, airships, and automatons.
đź‘— Unique Aesthetics : Victorian costumes, fantastic sets and impressive special effects that captivate viewers.
🌌 Imaginary Worlds : Parallel universes and dystopian worlds that offer captivating adventures.
👨‍🔬 Charismatic Characters : Memorable heroes and anti-heroes, often seeking justice or truth in oppressed societies.
🎥 Cinematic innovations : Directors like Terry Gilliam and Hayao Miyazaki who push the boundaries of the genre with their unique artistic vision.
🛠️ Ingenuity and Inventiveness : Stories that celebrate human ingenuity and the quest for knowledge through extraordinary inventions.
🚀 Extraordinary Voyages : Explorations of the unknown, whether in the depths of the oceans or the vast expanses of space.
📽️ Lasting Influence : Films that continue to inspire new generations of creators and film enthusiasts, solidifying Steampunk as a timeless genre.
Steampunk style is reminiscent of Victorian England (late 19th century) with its coal and steam engines. As if electricity had never been discovered, imagine a world of steam engines of unrealistic dimensions. Not to mention flying ships, steam-powered insect robots, huge submarines, mind-blowing cannons, and so on. Well, this retro-futuristic world is nothing more than a Steampunk world.
The following list gathers the best steampunk movies that are family friendly. Ingenious, entertaining, with tons of imaginary locations and filled with spectacular action scenes, even if they are not blockbusters. Each movie features steampunk , dieselpunk and Victorian clothing, parallel worlds, innovative steam engines, airships , lots of imagination and good humor. And these are popular, beautiful and visually stunning steampunk movies to represent this genre. You can get a little idea by watching the trailer, and if we make you want to see the movie, all the better.
1- A Trip to the Moon (1902)
- Director: Georges Méliès
- Main actors: Georges Méliès, François Lallement, Jules-Eugène Legris
One of the most iconic silent films and certainly the most famous image of the Belle Epoque , this science fiction film has been studied and discussed for over a century. You know, some films are famous for certain scenes. Many of them have lines of dialogue that can be quoted.
However, there is a very small and exclusive club of films that are remembered and symbolized by a single image. A face in the moon with a rocket in its eyes. This image is so famous that it is instantly recognizable, even for those who have never seen a single silent film. It has been mentioned and imitated in everything - from children's books to music videos.
Méliès wrote the screenplay, starred in the film in the lead role, designed the sets and costumes, directed, photographed and produced the film! He even hired acrobats from the Folies Bergères to play the lunar inhabitants called Selenites, and the dressed assistants who launched the cannon were dancers from the Ballet du Châtelet.
Méliès' 400th film, the most remarkable (only six years after the legendary first screening by the Lumière Brothers), was made on an astronomical budget of 10,000 francs, very risky, but worthy of interest because it was an immense success.
A group of men travel to the moon by being shot at in a capsule by a giant cannon. They are captured by moonmen, escape and return to earth. The same film Martin Scorsese used in "Hugo" is one of the best steampunk films ever!
Inspired by the books of Jules Verne and HG Wells, George Méliès, a pioneer of cinema, made a film about a rocket that is sent to the moon. As in the works of Verne and Wells, the film became steampunk because of the time in which it was filmed. Even steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction, all it takes is elements from the 19th century or earlier to fall into this genre. Since it was filmed in the early 20th century, it has become not only one of the first science fiction films, but also of the steampunk genre .
At 12 minutes and 52 seconds long, the film is on YouTube and is considered one of the most influential films in the history of cinema. All of this makes it a film that every film lover should watch.
2- Hugo Cabret (2011)
-Director: Martin Scorsese
- Screenwriters : John Logan (screenplay), Brian Selznick (book)
- Main actors: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee
Hugo Cabret is a historical adventure film based on Brian Selznick's novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret". An incredible film - a MUST see and re-see because this film will thrill you!
Hugo Cabret is an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station in 1930s Paris. He has figured out how to set his father's and uncle's clocks and various devices that he uses to operate the station's teleprinters. The only thing he has left that connects him to his dead father is an automaton (mechanical man) that doesn't work without a key. Hugo must find the key to solve the mystery surrounding his father.
What is interesting for a steampunk fan is that Hugo, in his adventures, meets Georges Méliès, who works at the train station, with his goddaughter. Hugo discovers that they have a connection with his father and the automaton, and he discovers that this unlocks some memories that the old man has buried inside him about his past.
Hugo Cabret celebrates the birth of cinema and the preservation of old films. The film, one of the best steampunk films ever, also talks about his dreams and how important it is to try to live them.
3- The Prestige (2006)
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Screenwriters: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan
- Main actors: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson
It is the end of the 19th century, we are in London . Robert Angier, his dear wife Julia McCullough and Alfred Borden are friends and assistants of a magician. But when Julia accidentally dies during a performance, Robert blames Alfred for her death and they become enemies.
From that moment on, the two become famous and rival magicians, sabotaging each other's performances on stage. When Alfred succeeds in a trick, Robert becomes obsessed with revealing his competitor's secret - with tragic consequences. In the end, two stage magicians engage in a "battle" in an attempt to create the ultimate stage illusion.
What makes this movie so incredible is that while it is indeed a movie about magicians (or illusionists), it is also a complex character study about self-destructive obsessions. A very well-told story, the appearance of Nicolas Tesla and a palpable steampunk universe. A unique plot with an amazing cast.
4- Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
- Director: Hayao Miyazaki
- Screenwriters : Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay), Diana Wynne Jones (novel)
- Main actors: Chieko Baishô, Takuya Kimura, Tatsuya Gashûin
"Howl's Moving Castle" is based on a 1986 fantasy novel by author Diana Wynne Jones, the first in a trilogy of books featuring the wizard Hauru, a powerful and vain man who lives in a moving castle and can transform into a giant bird.
Howl's Moving Castle is a love story between an 18-year-old girl named Sophie, cursed by a witch in the body of an old woman, and a magician named Hauru. Under the curse, Sophie sets out to find her fortune, which brings her to the strange moving castle.
In the castle, Sophie meets the fire demon, named Calcifer. Seeing that she is under a curse, the demon makes a deal with Sophie - if she breaks the contract he made with Hauru, then Calcifer will lift the curse on Sophie, and she will return to her 18-year-old form.
Considered by many to be one of Hayao Miyazaki 's best works, this steampunk film is an impressive and visually stunning animated film with a complex story. Like all Miyazaki films, it is a moving and dynamic experience that draws the audience into strange worlds of fantasy and remarkable inventions. The quality of the animation propels it among the masterpieces beyond the manga .
The steampunk elements are very well known here - the castle itself is perhaps one of the best inventions of the genre! The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2003 and remains one of the most famous works of its impressive director. It is a very interesting experience that can be watched and enjoyed by all audiences.
5- Brazil (1985)
- Director: Terry Gilliam
- Screenwriters : Terry Gilliam (screenplay), Tom Stoppard (screenplay)
- Main actors: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro
"Brazil" is a variation of George Orwell 's novel, 1984. The film takes place in a time and place, perhaps the United States, that seems vaguely like our own, but with different morals and politics. Society is controlled by a monolithic organization and the citizens live a life of paranoia and control.
The film is filled with violent, intense and gory scenes, including torture, explosions in public places, bloody bodies and body parts, gunshots and the oppression of civilians by large numbers of police troops. Because of this violence, and because of the film's dark tone, hilarious characters and often profound sequences, the film is not recommended for younger audiences.
Sam Lowry is a needlessly convoluted and inefficient technocrat. He dreams of a life where he can get away from technology and bureaucracy and spend eternity with the woman of his dreams. While trying to rectify the wrongful arrest of one Harry Tuttle, Lowry meets the woman he always dreams of, Jill Layton. Meanwhile, the bureaucracy has framed him for a series of terrorist bombings, and Sam and Jill's lives are put in danger.
"Brazil" gives everyone hope for a world where people are free to live, dream and protest. After all, as Harry Tuttle would say, "We're all in this together."
6- The City of Lost Children (1995)
- Directors: Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Screenwriters : Gilles Adrien, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Main actors: Ron Perlman, Daniel Emilfork, Judith Vittet
The City of Lost Children offers a bizarre and breathtaking experience with fantastic visual settings. In a surreal and bizarre society, children have been kidnapped by an evil scientist, Krank, who wants to steal their dreams, stop and reverse their accelerated aging process.
As strange as it may seem, this French film (cocorico) is considered one of the best steampunk films in cinema. It is a dark fantasy with a strong use of 19th century science fiction settings. It is said to be an homage to the works of Terry Gilliam.
While it's certainly not everyone's favorite movie, it's definitely an experience in every way.
7- The Illusionist (2006)
- Director: Neil Burger
- Screenwriters : Neil Burger (screenplay), Steven Millhauser (short story "Eisenheim the Illusionist")
- Main actors: Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, Paul Giamatti
In late 19th-century Vienna, famed illusionist Eisenheim reunites with Duchess von Teschen when she volunteers to take part in an illusion at one of her performances.
Although they have not seen each other for fifteen years as teenagers, they almost immediately recognize each other as Eduard Abramovich and Sophie von Teschen, who at the time had an impossible love because of their class differences. The Duchess is soon to marry Crown Prince Leopold in what he considers an arranged marriage for the pursuit of power. And the intrigue continues...
This film is breathtaking in so many ways. Visually, inside and out, there is a great coherence and everything is perfectly mastered. The story is woven in a fluid way, you become attached to the characters very quickly. "The Illusionist" stages a fascinating parable about art, religion and politics - and the blurred lines between them.
8- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Screenwriters : Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
- Main actors: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Jared Harris
Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty.
Sherlock Holmes investigates terrorist attacks in London only to have his former partner, Dr. John Watson, marry Mary in a few days. His research points to Professor James Moriarty as the person responsible for the explosions. When Dr. Watson and Mary are attacked on the train while traveling on their honeymoon, Holmes delivers Mary to the protection of his brother, Mycroft.
Soon, Holmes and Watson reveal that Professor Moriarty has purchased weapons and munitions factories and is trying to start a war in Europe, killing leaders and politicians. Sherlock and Watson must now stop Moriarty and his dangerous associate, the cunning former Colonel Sebastian Moran, to prevent the impending war.
The film opens with a massive explosion in Strasbourg, followed by similar pyrotechnics in London, Paris and Germany, punctuating endless car chases, train fights and battles that culminate in a body count that anticipates the world war Holmes seeks to avert.
9- Mortal Engines (2018)
-Director: Christian Rivers
- Screenwriters: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson
-Actors: Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving
Mortal Engines was originally a dystopian adventure novel by British author Philip Reeve, published in 2001, the first of the "Mortal Engines quartet".
The film is essentially a steampunk Star Wars, with a bit of Gilliam and Gaiman. In the end, in fact, the similarities with George Lucas' great creation become so obvious that we can speak of a kind of homage...
We are in a post-apocalyptic world, the Earth having been ravaged by a "60-minute war", which has created a devastated landscape. In some places there are what are called "static colonies", but the land is covered in moving cities, which now move in a sinister and predatory way, swallowing up less mobile communities, enslaving their populations, using the buildings for fuel and especially for the recovery of "low-tech": pre-digital machines and technologies of the kind that, however damaged and rusty, can still be repaired and put to use, especially for war purposes.
There's some good stuff in Mortal Engines, especially for steampunk fans, and the performances are entertaining enough. But Mortal Engines isn't a particularly exciting or funny movie, and the idea of ​​the moving city is a stylistic and visual gimmick that you can take or leave. It's worth wondering exactly how the colossal engineering feat of putting a city on wheels and moving it was accomplished, especially in an age of admittedly increasingly impoverished technology. The engines in this movie stutter.
10-20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
- Director: Richard Fleischer
-Screenwriter: Earl Felton (Jules Verne?) (screenplay)
- Main actors: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas
"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" is Disney's take on Jules Verne's classic 19th-century novel of the same name. The visionary Jules Verne wrote about submarines and diving suits in the 19th century, when it was all science fiction. Walt Disney Studios made Verne's ambitious deep-sea tale the studio's first live-action film, and the result was impressive by 1954.
The oceans in the late 19th century, especially Leagues Under the Sea, are not a safe place... many ships have been lost. Sailors have returned to port with tales of a vicious giant whale with a long horn that sinks their ships. The plot of the film (which has little to do with Verne's original) concerns Professor Aronnax and his two companions, Conseil and Ned Land, who embark on an American warship to participate in the search for the mysterious sea monster in an attempt to unravel the mystery.
Watch the original 1954 version to get the full steampunk effect. This film is considered by many to be the epitome of the genre. It's like a steampunk version of Moby Dick with a submarine!
11- April and the rigged world (2015)
- Directors: Christian Desmares, Franck Ekinci
- Screenwriters : Franck Ekinci (screenplay), Benjamin Legrand (screenplay)
- Main actors: Marion Cotillard, Philippe Katerine, Jean Rochefort
The world is radically different from the one we know from history books. It is 1941 and geopolitics has developed strangely: Napoleon V reigns over France and, for 70 years, scientists have mysteriously disappeared, depriving man of his inventions.
Deprived of radio, television, electricity, aviation and combustion engines, the world is plunged into an outdated technology, dozing in the know-how of the previous century dominated by coal and steam. In this inept universe, Avril, a teenager, Darwin, her talking cat, Pops, his grandfather and Julius, a young police informant, set out to find Avril's parents, two of the missing scientists. They will be confronted with many dangers and mysteries in this new and strange world.
"April and the Extraordinary World" is a different animated film that perfectly uses steampunk elements to tell the charming story of a young girl searching for her parents. It takes place in a world where there are no trees and the air is so bad that people cannot live without the use of masks. It is a perfect example of the steampunk genre.
And yet, despite this, it turns out to be a beautiful story that both adults and children can enjoy. It has powerful visual settings, brings classic and nostalgic animation settings that work perfectly for the film. The animation is hand-drawn, which gives it a delightful retro look close to the comics of our childhood.
12- Treasure Planet - treasure planet (2002)
- Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
- Screenwriters : Robert Louis Stevenson (based on the novel "Treasure Island"), Ron Clements (screenplay)
- Main actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short
The original plot, Treasure Island, was about a young man named Jim Hawkins, the son of a family that owned a local inn. After the death of an old sea captain named Billy Bones, Jim and his mother open the sailor's chest and discover a map. It is later revealed to be a treasure map of the famous pirate Captain Flint. The rest of the story follows this young boy's quest for wealth.
The film's story is essentially that of Stevenson's Victorian novel about pirates and sea adventure, while its setting and visual language draw heavily on Star Wars (particularly The Phantom Menace).
"Treasure Planet" is an animated version of this classic story in a science fiction setting. An interesting mix of computer animation and hand-drawn animation.
13- Hellboy 2: The Golden Legions (2008)
- Director: Guillermo del Toro
- Screenwriters : Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro (story)
- Main actors: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones
In this sequel to the demonic superhero adventure, an evil elf with a love of dark magic breaks an ancient pact between humans and creatures, declaring war on humanity. He is on a mission to unleash the Golden Army, a deadly group of fighting machines that can destroy the human race.
As hell on Earth is about to break out, Hellboy and his friends must venture into a strange and ancient realm to stop the Golden Army and Prince Nuada from destroying humanity.
The film is set in a world of gods and monsters, and some of the creations are surprising, inventive, strange, grotesque, dangerous and as frightening as they are fascinating. The creature design is extraordinary, a masterpiece of Art Deco - especially in the impressive troll market.
"Hellboy II" has a light and fantastical tone overall; it never becomes too oppressive or sinister for teens and adults who enjoy fantasy. Furthermore, its visual imagination is astounding to behold. Del Toro does exceptionally well as a director. He never lets the fantasy become the focus of the film, instead focusing on the characters and delivering action scenes that can only be described as grandiose.
14- SteamBoy (2004)
- Director: Katsuhiro ĹŚtomo (as Katsuhiro Ohtomo)
- Screenwriters : Sadayuki Murai, Katsuhiro Ōtomo (as Katsuhiro Ohtomo)
The story follows 3 generations of a British family involved in the technological race involving steam. Rei is a young inventor living in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century.
It's the eve of the World's Fair, a showcase of technology. Ray Steam, living in London, is caught in a whirlwind of danger when a mysterious package containing the enigmatic Steam Ball is sent to his house courtesy of his grandfather Lloyd.
Lloyd is desperate to keep the Steam Ball out of the hands of the O'Hara Foundation, a giant innovation corporation run by a baffling character who is associated with Ray in more ways than one. They need the Steam Ball to power a mechanical monster the likes of which the world has never seen - and it's up to Ray to stop them.
As the name suggests, this animated film is full of steam. The film has intriguing ideas about human lives being ruled by machines, which is why the technology in "SteamBoy" seems promising. Ôtomo worked on the film for 10 years, drawing countless animation cells by hand and using computer resources.
15- A Series of Unfortunate Events (2011)
- Director: Brad Silberling
- Screenwriters : Robert Gordon (screenplay), Daniel Handler (books)
- Main actors: Jim Carrey, Jude Law, Meryl Streep
Three children - Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire - are orphaned when their house burns down, with their parents inside, under unclear circumstances. They are placed in the care of a relative, Count Olaf. It soon becomes clear that Count Olaf only cares about the Baudelaires' children for their great inheritance.
This movie is based on the first three books in "A Series of Unfortunate Events." I'm not a fan of the series, but the first book, "It All Begins Wrong," is awesome. Like the books, the movie is full of gruesome events while still showing some humor - enough to make you hope for a happy ending. But don't get your hopes up.
As its title suggests, this film is part of the grim but vital strain of children's literature in which children suffer terribly, parents and adults have the same life expectancy as the villains in action movies, and courage and ingenuity are all that keep children alive.
16- Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
- Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
- Screenwriters : Tab Murphy (screenplay), Kirk Wise (story)
- Main actors: Michael J. Fox, Jim Varney, Corey Burton
It is 1914 and Milo Thatch, grandson of the great-great Thaddeus Thatch, works in the boiler room of a museum. He knows that Atlantis was real, and he can get there if he has the mysterious Shephards' journal, which can guide him to Atlantis. But he needs capital for a trip. His employer finds it absurd and refuses to finance such a crazy idea.
He returns home to his apartment and finds a woman there. She takes him to Preston B. Whitmore, an old friend of his grandfathers. He gives her the Shepherds' Journal, a submarine and a 5-star crew. They cross the Atlantic Ocean, face a big lobster called the Leviathan, and finally reach Atlantis. But does the crew of Atlantis have a thirst for discovery, or something else?
"Atlantis: The Lost Empire" is a children's science fiction adventure film with beautiful animation and a good dose of wit and personality. While it's not a Disney classic, it's still a steampunk film I would watch again, mainly for the beauty and energy of the animation itself.
17- The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (2010)
- Director: Luc Besson
- Screenwriters : Luc Besson (screenplay), Jacques Tardi (comics)
- Main actors: Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric, Gilles Lellouche
Inspired by Jacques Tardi's comic book series of the same name, the film is set in 1910. There's ultra-advanced ancient Egyptian technology, coupled with extraordinary inventions - and all of this, combined with mystical elements, makes for the perfect example of a steampunk film .
Desperate to cure her sister, Adèle Blanc Sec braves ancient Egyptian tombs and modern Egyptian thugs to track down a mummified doctor and bring him back to Paris. She hopes that Professor Espérandieu will then use his unusual powers to bring the doctor back to life so that he, in turn, can use his skills on his unfortunate sister.
But in Paris, Espérandieu is already wreaking havoc, having given life to what was a museum egg but is now a very active pterodactyl. Paris in 1911 is perhaps not the healthiest place.
With a charismatic performance by Louise Bourgoin and interesting special effects, "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc Sec" was well received by audiences and critics alike. It is a fun and curious experience that all audiences can enjoy.
18- The Golden Compass (2007)
- Director: Chris Weitz
- Screenwriters : Chris Weitz (screenplay), Philip Pullman (novel)
- Main actors: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards
A very poor and unfair rating for this steampunk-style film that creates more complex villains and asks more intriguing questions than the others on this list. As a viewing experience, I'd say it's superb - very close to "Hugo."
The story revolves around Lyra Belacqua, a girl who was raised as an orphan at an Oxford college under the patronage of her "uncle", an adventurous scientist named Lord Asriel. But Lyra's greatest adventure began closer to home, the day she heard about an extraordinary particle.
Microscopic in size, the magic dust possesses profound properties that could unite all universes. But there were those who feared the particle and would destroy it. Thrust into the heart of a terrible struggle, Lyra was forced to seek help from clans, "gypsies," and fearsome armored bears. And as she journeyed into incredible danger, she had no idea that she alone was destined to win, or lose, this battle. The film sends Lyra from one danger to the next, and she is usually saved by help she and we never saw coming.
The film takes place in a parallel universe where a dark company threatens to separate children from their real imaginary friends. And this world is filled with machines, beautiful sets and tons of steampunk accessories to enjoy.
19- Van Helsing (2004)
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Scriptwriter : Stephen Sommers
- Main actors: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh
Van Helsing is in the world to rid the world of all evil, even if not everyone agrees with him. The Vatican sends the monster hunter and his ally, Carl, to Transylvania. They have been sent to this land to stop the powerful Count Dracula. During this time, they team up with a gypsy princess, Anna Valerious, who is determined to end an ancient curse on her family by destroying the vampire. They don't know how to do it.
The turning point of the film is marked by Dracula and Van Helsing fighting each other, except Van Helsing is a werewolf this time. This sequence takes place during a full moon so that he can make this transformation, but the moon frequently continues to go behind the clouds, causing Van Helsing to take on his human form during these times. It works as a dramatic device to make the fight interesting.
Van Helsing is a fun and imaginative way to set the scene and draw on the references. The monsters are all reimagined with great flair, especially Frankenstein's creation, which is one of the best on screen. The story pays homage to classic Universal and Hammer monster movies, as well as many modern-day adventures.
20- The Time Machine (2002)
- Director: Simon Wells
- Screenwriters : HG Wells (novel), David Duncan (previous screenplay)
- Main actors: Guy Pearce, Yancey Arias, Mark Addy
The plot of "The Time Machine" is about time travel done wrong, done very wrong. Based on the classic science fiction novel by HG Wells, a scientist and inventor is determined to prove that time travel is possible.
Alexander Hartdegen, a 19th century scientist, spends years researching, developing and building the world's first time machine after tragically losing his fiancée Emma to a mugger. While testing his time machine, Hartdegen is thrown 800,000 years into the future, where he discovers that humanity has become divided between the hunter and the hunted.
The Morlocks evolved underground during the Dark Ages after the fall of the moon and attacked the surface by emerging through dusty waterholes. They hunt the Eloi for food. The Eloi are a race of brown-skinned people; their lives are an idyll of leafy bowers, waterfalls, and elegant forest structures, but they are so fatalistic about the Morlocks that instead of fighting them, they salt and pepper themselves.
In short, a classic to see or read (it's even better) for this classic from one of the favorite authors of steampunk. Also see the War of the Worlds which is not part of the list.
21- The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
- Director: Terry Gilliam
- Screenwriters : Charles McKeown and Terry Gilliam / novel by Rudolf Erich Raspe
- Main actors: John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is an exciting and visually stunning steampunk film that offers a unique and unforgettable entertainment experience. There is something reminiscent of G. Méliès, especially the part with the selenites.
The story of Baron Munchausen centers around the character of Baron Munchausen, a famous German adventurer of the 18th century. When the city of Venusia is besieged by the Turkish army, the baron is called to help save the city.
With the help of his faithful servant Berthold, Baron Munchausen embarks on a series of incredible and fantastical adventures. He meets eccentric characters such as the Moon Queen, the god Vulcan, and even his own evil double.
The film features a unique steampunk aesthetic that combines 18th-century elements with futuristic technologies imagined by the filmmakers. The costumes, sets, and special effects are all incredibly well-executed, creating a captivating fictional world.
The film is also known for its incredible acting performances, especially John Neville who plays Baron Munchausen, and Robin Williams who plays the role of the Moon King.
22 - The Shape of Water (2018)
- Director: Guillermo del Toro
- Main actors: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins
The film's story is set in 1960s Baltimore, where a mute maid named Elisa, working in a secret government laboratory, falls in love with an amphibious creature captured by scientists.
Elisa, played by Sally Hawkins, will do anything to free the creature she considers her equal, despite the risks involved. She receives help from her friends, a colleague working with her and an artist neighbor.
The film features a gorgeous aesthetic that combines the film noir vibe with the director's ever-present steampunk elements (especially in the lab). The sets, costumes, and music create a dark and compelling atmosphere. Sally Hawkins, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Elisa.
"The Shape of Water" is a captivating film that offers a unique cinematic experience. It explores themes such as love, equality and oppression, in a fascinating steampunk universe.
23 - City of Ember (2008)
- Director: Gil Kenan
- Screenwriters : Caroline Thompson, Jeanne DuPrau
- Main actors: Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway
The film is set in a dystopian steampunk universe, where a war has destroyed most of the world's cities, leaving the survivors living in underground cities. The main city, the Shadow City, is run by a tyrannical government that controls the minds of its citizens through a substance called "the Mist".
The main character, Miette, is a young girl living in the Shadow City who is looking to escape her oppressive environment. She meets a young mechanic named Silas who is also looking for freedom. Together, they venture into the depths of the city and uncover a plot that could change the fate of the Shadow City.
This science fiction film features a unique steampunk aesthetic, with dark sets and elaborate costumes that create a visually impressive universe. The music also adds a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere.
24 - The Hunt for Tomorrow (2015)
- Director: Brad Bird
- Main actors: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson
The film is a mix of science fiction and fantasy, with a futuristic aesthetic close to Atompunk , a bit like Bioshock , which combines elements of steampunk with a vision of the future. The sets and special effects are impressive, creating a visually dazzling universe.
The film's story follows a young man named Casey, played by Britt Robertson, who discovers a strange badge that allows him to see a utopian future. Intrigued, she seeks to discover the badge's origin and finds an old amusement park, named "Tomorrowland", which seems to be the origin of this ideal future.
Casey meets a young girl named Athena, played by Raffey Cassidy, who guides her to the world of "Tomorrowland". There they meet Frank, an eccentric inventor who has been banished from "Tomorrowland" for years. Together, they must discover why "Tomorrowland" is in danger and how they can save the future.
Steampunk Movies to Avoid.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
- Director: Stephen Norrington
- Screenwriters : Alan Moore (comics), Kevin O'Neill (comics)
- Main actors: Sean Connery, Stuart Townsend, Peta Wilson
Allan Quatermain assembles a splendid team of extraordinary characters with legendary powers to combat the technological terror of a madman known as "The Phantom." The League includes Captain Nemo, the vampire Mina Harker, an invisible man named Rodney Skinner, U.S. Secret Service agent Tom Sawyer, the invincible Dorian Gray and the dangerous Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.
M (a spymaster for Her Majesty's government) informs them that the leaders of Europe are meeting in Venice and that the mysterious villains are going to blow up the city to start a world war. And the League must stop them. The action later moves to the frozen lakes of Mongolia, where the enemy leader has built a gigantic factory to manufacture robot soldiers.
This film features some wonderful techno-Steampunk scenes. The Nautilus submarine is a stunning display of engineering, but no Steampunk submarine is complete without a host of gadgets, a six-wheeled automobile, and imaginative weaponry. The film as a whole is unfortunately poor, with the storyline being a bit too wacky and incoherent, to be watched once on a rainy Sunday.
Wild Wild West (1999)
- Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
- Screenwriters : Jim Thomas (story), John Thomas (story)
- Main actors: Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Branagh
Well, "Wild Wild West" is an incredibly disappointing and lopsided sci-fi wild west movie. Despite using elements of westerns , steampunk, and futuristic gadgets, the film lacks a cohesive and engaging story to tie all of these elements together.
The film is based on the 1960s television series of the same name and follows the adventures of secret service agents James West, played by Will Smith, and Artemus Gordon, played by Kevin Kline, as they attempt to stop the evil Dr. Arliss Loveless, played by Kenneth Branagh, in his quest for world domination.
The film relies on the acting performances, but even those aren't enough to save the film. Will Smith, normally a charismatic actor, seems lost and uncomfortable in his role as a secret agent. Kevin Kline, meanwhile, fails to deliver a convincing comedic performance.
The sets and special effects are also very disappointing. While some of the futuristic gadgets are quite interesting, the film fails to create a coherent universe. The action scenes lack impact and tension, and the jokes often fall flat. A science fiction film that lacks originality and quality.
That's it.... there are others that could have been in this list. I could have talked about Sleepy Hollow, Crimson Peak and so many other steampunk movies....but after all no list can be perfect.
See you soon, vaporist, for a future article on the world of Steampunk.