The Best Steampunk Movies of All Time
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Steampunk is a unique blend of the past and the future, combining elements of science fiction with the aesthetics of the 19th-century Industrial Revolution.
The world of steampunk offers filmmakers a chance to reimagine history, placing steam-powered machines, airships, and gears into an alternative universe.
Here is our list of some of the best steampunk movies of all time.
Table of Contents
The City of Lost Children (1995)
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro
Starring: Daniel Emilfork, Ron Perlman, Judith Vittet
Set in a surreal dystopian world, the film revolves around a mad scientist named Krank, who has lost the ability to dream. To counteract his insomnia and the rapid aging it causes, Krank kidnaps children from the local city, using a device to steal their dreams. However, the stolen dreams are invariably nightmarish due to the children’s fear.
The story takes a turn when a young orphan named Miette teams up with a carnival strongman named One to rescue One’s adopted little brother, Denree, from Krank’s lair. As they delve deeper into the world of Krank and his bizarre group of henchmen, they face multiple challenges and strange encounters.
![The City of Lost Children (20th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61-XeHqzPHL._SL160_.jpg)
Steamboy (2004)
Director: Katsuhiro Otomo
Set in an alternate 19th-century England, the story follows Ray Steam, a young inventor who comes into possession of a mysterious metal ball known as the “Steam Ball.” This invention contains an incredibly powerful steam-driven energy source, which Ray’s grandfather, Lloyd, believes can benefit the world, while Ray’s father, Eddie, views it as a tool of mass destruction.
As various powers vie for control of the Steam Ball, Ray is thrust into the midst of a conflict that sees London turned into a battleground of steampunk-inspired machines and inventions. Ray has to make difficult decisions about whom to trust and what to do with the Steam Ball, while understanding its potential impact on civilization.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Director: Stephen Norrington
Starring: Sean Connery, Peta Wilson, Naseeruddin Shah, Tony Curran
The story is centered around a nefarious figure known as the Fantom, who is causing chaos across Europe in an attempt to start a world war. In response, the British government recruits Allan Quatermain, a legendary adventurer, to assemble a team of extraordinary individuals to counter this threat.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal, Lauren Bacall
Set in a magical world where both magic and early 20th-century technology exist, the story revolves around Sophie, a young hatter who leads a quiet, unremarkable life. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she encounters a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. Soon after, she is cursed by the spiteful Witch of the Waste, transforming her into an elderly woman. Unable to tell anyone about her curse, Sophie seeks refuge in Howl’s magical, walking castle.
As Sophie and Howl become closer, they find themselves embroiled in a war that threatens to consume their world. Together with Howl’s fire demon, Calcifer, and a scarecrow with a mysterious past, they work to break Sophie’s curse and prevent the war’s escalation.
Hugo (2011)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen
Set in the 1930s Paris, the story revolves around a young orphaned boy named Hugo Cabret who lives in the walls of a busy train station. Responsible for maintaining the station’s clocks after the disappearance of his alcoholic uncle, Hugo spends his days avoiding the watchful eyes of the station inspector while also working on repairing an automaton, a mechanical man, that he believes contains a message from his deceased father.
During his adventures, Hugo befriends Isabelle, the goddaughter of a bitter toy shop owner, Georges. As they delve into the mystery of the automaton, they uncover secrets about Georges’s past, revealing his identity as the once-famous filmmaker, Georges Méliès, who had been thought to be lost to history.
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