Steampunk Movies and Media
This is an ongoing attempt at cataloging inspirations, please let me know if you have additions.
The Island at the Top of the World (1974) the airship is gorgeous, it hits a lot of the steampunk tropes we all know today despite being made before the genre was even a thing.
Master of the World (1961), is a combination of Robur the Conqueror and Master of the World
20,000 Leagues under the Sea (1954, 1997) the 1870 novel by Jules Verne.
The Mysterious Island (1961, 1995, 2010) the 1875 novel is a sequel of sorts to 20,000 Leagues under the sea.
Around the World in 80 Days (2004, 2022)
Wild Wild West, update of the 1960s TV show of the same name set in the 1800s with lots of gadgets
Mortal Engines, sure there are fusion weapons, but look at the clothing and the airships it’s very taken with the Steampunk aesthetic if nothing else.
Steamboy, there are all sorts of steam-powered inventions, although the people dress in a manner more akin to Charles Dickens or Sherlock Holmes stories.
Jonah Hex, is a supernatural comic book movie, but grounded in a Civil War setting where the superweapon is an ironclad with a rotating multi-barrel cannon.
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, has a lot of steampunk elements including a very nice version of Nemo’s Nautilus.
Hellboy, Rasputin’s underground facility at the end has a lot of gears and mechanical movements.
Hellboy II, the Golden Army is all clockwork and gear automatons.
Hugo, story about an automaton set in the 1800s and a love letter to early cinema.
Van Helsing, set in Europe while the Eifel Tower is still being built, there are lots of gadgets and super science.
City of Ember (2008)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows (2011), we get chemical superweapons, portable oxygen tanks, superstition, and mysticism hiding nefarious plot.
The Nevers (2021) HBO series is set in an 1800s London with steampunk enthusiasm and gadgets if not the complete aesthetic, clothing is still very Victorian.
The Aeronauts (2019) is based on a true story but combines the stories od two historical characters to make it more dramatic, there’s very little over the top steampunk in it, but if your steampunk persona or general interest is in airships this pioneering scientist nearly freezing to death in a hot air balloon might still be your cuppa.
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016) zombies take over Japan and the only way to survive is to travel between the safety of the walled cities on an armored train and shoot them with steam-powered firearms.
Pride Prejudice and Zombies (2016) I personally believe the presence of Kung Fu and Samurai sword action makes this movie rise above its Regency literary roots. There’s not a lot of steam or gadgets, but the characters still embrace the fight against a neverending horde of the undead. Sometimes steampunk to me is the injection of an uncharacteristic spirit and enthusiasm into the typically stodgy portrayals of the period.
Stardust (2007) Captain Shakespeare’s airship has some steampunk vibes, the movie is based on a 1999 Neil Gaiman novel.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) written by Ian Fleming it’s got gear and gadgets.
The Prestige (2006) has competing stage magicians and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla.
The Illusionist (2006) story about a stage magician.
Carnival Row (2019– ) is set in a world not quite like our own, technologically somewhere between the Victorian period and WWI. This world has Faeries and other mythical creatures.
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) an 1800s Batman chases Jack the Ripper, based on a graphic novel by the same name.
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