List of Steampunk Movies

[Winston Smith]

I got Mirrormask and Franklyn after seeing them listed, liked both of them
 Didn't know Moulin Rouge (2001) was steamy?
My wife bought it when it first came out, I've never watched it but will have to now 

[NevilleYardley]

Would you count "Sleepy Hollow"?
It does have some cool brass gadgets AND a nifty goggles!!
Just a thought...
~N. Yardley

[Rockula]

Would you count "Sleepy Hollow"?
It does have some cool brass gadgets AND a nifty goggles!!
Just a thought...
~N. Yardley

I thought that when they showed it on TV the other day. But it's set in 1799 a few years before the Victorian era normally associated with the genre. But I don't think that really matters personally.
 And according to IMDb, under the heading of 'anachronisms'
 ''At Van Tassel's party, carved pumpkins decorate the mantelpiece. The tradition of carving pumpkins was not commonplace in America until the great Irish immigrations of the 1840s.''
 So there you go.

[Capt. Dirigible]

Didn't know Moulin Rouge (2001) was steamy?

If you ask me it's definitely 'brown and steamy'....

[Voltin]

I agree with Rockula and Neville Yardley. Being that the year is 1799 and a few years before the Victorian era shouldn't really matter. Some agrue that the Industrial Revolution began in the late 18th century and Steampowered machines were being recognized as useful means of transportation.

Depp as Ichabod Crane plays a rather Steampunkish investigator. That is certain.
Another minor detail I noticed (which forgive me if I am wrong) is that the charactor Brom Van Brunt has a musket that is equipped with lenses which seems to be another anachronism as I have never heard of that being done during that time in history. But like I said I could be wrong.

I actually thought that Sleepy Hollow was all ready on the list and was a little surprised when I seen that it was not.

I am a big fan of Johnny and love the film From hell which is on the list. But I actually consider Sleepy Hollow to be more Steampunkish.

[Widjit]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but The Mutant Chronicles has some very awesome SP aspects to it. I wouldn't have imagined this before watching it but it's pretty good.

-Widjit

[darkshines]

Mmmmm......Sleepy Hollow......that movie has kept me company through many a long lonely night.....

[MechanicalMouse]

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but The Mutant Chronicles has some very awesome SP aspects to it. I wouldn't have imagined this before watching it but it's pretty good.

-Widjit

Mutant Chronicles has steam powered spaceships!

It also messed up on the storyline, and gave no explanation to why the world was steam powered.

[Cherchezlafemme]

Would The Great Race (1965) or The Assassination Bureau (1969) be considered steampunk?

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Would The Great Race (1965) or The Assassination Bureau (1969) be considered steampunk?

Absolutely, but I think they are both already in the list aren't they?

[Indefinitive]

Someone I've been talking to recently sparked my interest again in many musicals that I haven't watched in a long time. Tonight, I watched The Phantom Of The Opera (2004).

Couldn't help but look at the costumes and love them. While this tips on the Victorian end of the Steampunk scale, I think it deserves a place on the list.

[Rockula]

Would The Great Race (1965) or The Assassination Bureau (1969) be considered steampunk?

Absolutely, but I think they are both already in the list aren't they?

I just managed to pick up a 2nd hand copy of 'The Assassination Bureau' on DVD for £8. And, bonus, it's a double-bill with 'Monte Carlo Or Bust'.

[costumemercenary]

"Iron Road", set in Wild West, about building of railway mostly by immigrant workers. Lots of steam and explosives.

[Winston Smith]

I was going to get Adventures of Mark Twain as it's listed and I've never seen it.
It was on eBay for $8.99
I was waiting for money to transfer through Paypal, but, listing disappeared 
 When I checked, it was re-listed for $63.99  (so that aint happening)

[Arvis]

 Try as I might, I can't seem to come up with the words without comming off as blunt or at the very least "heavyhanded". SO! What I'll do is just sum up in my own firm opinion as to what makes a steampunk film "steampunk".
 
 Any film/movie set in a past represented in the early 1800's through 1925 (sounds good to me) and depicts fanciful devices either way ahead of thier time or just totally non exsistant at the time such as nuclear submarines and computers is steampunk.

 It can be confusing at times I admit. But think of it this way...
   
   Uranium grenade = steampunk.

   Dynamite = re-enactment .
 
Both are explosives but one of them didn't (and as far as I know still doesn't) exist in the time specified above.
 If a movie set in this time frame has no science fiction premiss or at least some form of fantasy element, then for me it is not steampunk.
 I have seen "Moulin Rouge" and cannot remember a single thing about the movie that was steampunk. So for me it falls under re-enactment. (I actualy liked that movie by the way)
 Having watched the trailer to "Iron Road", I eagerly look foward to seeing this film however I saw nothing that struck me as particularly steampunk. Just because a movie takes place about a hundred years ago or so doesn't make it steampunk. Otherwise what would be the point? ALL movies depicted in that time frame would be steampunk. John Waynes Stagecoach would be considered steampunk! 

 "Firefly" takes place in the future and wears victorian outfits. To an extent this is what our future would look like if we as steampunks took over the world! SO! Hop to it and start brushing up on your mandarin!

Arvis

[costumemercenary]

Having watched the trailer to "Iron Road", I eagerly look foward to seeing this film however I saw nothing that struck me as particularly steampunk. Just because a movie takes place about a hundred years ago or so doesn't make it steampunk. Otherwise what would be the point? ALL movies depicted in that time frame would be steampunk. John Waynes Stagecoach would be considered steampunk!

Well, I wouldn't normally put forward Iron Road but Zulu, Sweeney Todd, The Illusionist and Mary Poppins made the list so I thought, we're not operating under the strictest definitions of steampunk. After all, Sweeney Todd's claim is to have a large meat grinder and a mechanical chair, both incredibly cool, but not really neither of which are really "uranium grenade" levels of steampunkery.

"Firefly" takes place in the future and wears victorian outfits. To an extent this is what our future would look like if we as steampunks took over the world! SO! Hop to it and start brushing up on your mandarin!

I suppose it's inability to actually have Chinese extras (let alone Chinese main characters) reflects accurately Victorian racial sensibilities? Firefly's Chinese veneer is more an excuse to swear in a non-English language and have cute girls in kimonos (which isn't even Chinese).

[Arvis]

Well, I wouldn't normally put forward Iron Road but Zulu, Sweeney Todd, The Illusionist and Mary Poppins made the list so I thought, we're not operating under the strictest definitions of steampunk. After all, Sweeney Todd's claim is to have a large meat grinder and a mechanical chair, both incredibly cool, but not really neither of which are really "uranium grenade" levels of steampunkery.

 Sorry if you felt singled out there. But I agree with you about "Zulu" and "Sweeny Todd". I don't see them as steampunk. (though I'm forced to admit that the ability to shave a mans face in roughly four strokes falls under fantasy) I find the chair and oven set up "borderline" at best. For the most part it's more re-enactment to me. As it can/could have been done with out being too far fetched.
 "The Illusionist on the other hand, was too fantastic in it's devices to not make the list. Granted some of those devices actually existed, but not as they were depicted on screen. I would let it stay on the list.
 "Mary Poppins" brings up another matter entirely. Do we allow perriod movies into the list when they have nothing more than cartoon characters and magic? Or does it make the list simply because we have an eccentric gentleman who fires his cannon on the hour. Here is where my hypocrisy begins to bleed through. In a previous post I mentioned adding "Pete's Dragon" to the list.
 To make it easy here it is.

I haven't seen "Pete's Dragon" listed yet. It would seem to be on shaky ground at first notion, that is until Dr. Terminus rolls into town in his wind powered snake oil wagon filled with wonderful "medical" equipment. Not to mention the lens of an old lighthouse is pure steampunk technology!

 So yes, the light house lens was ahead of it's time but clearly doable, therefor not particularly sc-fi. Doc Terminus's wagon is closer to steampunk than anything else in the movie but is it close enough? The fantasy of a dragon using his fire to light the wick in the light house put's it on par with "Mary Poppins" but is nothing like "Song of the South" with the exception of cartoon characters interacting with humans.
 So, where do we draw the line?

 

I suppose it's inability to actually have Chinese extras (let alone Chinese main characters) reflects accurately Victorian racial sensibilities? Firefly's Chinese veneer is more an excuse to swear in Chinese and have cute girls in kimonos (which isn't even Chinese).

 On this point I cannot argue what so ever becuase to be completely honest I have never even seen a complete episode of "Firefly"! 

 This is something I plan to remedy as I have already borrowed a copy of the series and will be watching it as soon as time permits. My remarks about "Firefly" were based on what little I knew about the bit's and pieces of episodes I had seen in the past specificaly the dress and overall aesthetics of the show.
 In the mean time, I shall pry my foot from my mouth.

 Arvis
 

[costumemercenary]

But I agree with you about "Zulu" and "Sweeny Todd". I don't see them as steampunk. (though I'm forced to admit that the ability to shave a mans face in roughly four strokes falls under fantasy) I find the chair and oven set up "borderline" at best. For the most part it's more re-enactment to me. As it can/could have been done with out being too far fetched.

So, where do we draw the line?

This probably where I'm going to say tags of some sort behind the movie names might be helpful in indicating what direction of steampunk to expect? So we can maybe sort through the "has steampunk gadgets" from the "has massive steampunk machines" and the finally "is actually a steampunk world setting." And maybe sorting from that "mostly historical but steampunk-y in aesthetic". It doesn't need to be particularly strict as far as our definitions go, but it might help neaten the list.

Subdivisions would be impossible, and we'd probably bicker for days over which film was what, but I think we could probably manage "Costumes" (like Moulin Rouge), "Devices" (Sherlock Holmes, "World Setting" (Mutant Chronicles?), "Fantasy" (like Hellboy II), etc as tags. Writing the system might be hellish, but the initial steps seems simple enough.

I essentially skimmed the list and made assumptions from that on what qualified. It was sort of a "if blah, then probably blah" situation.

Didn't know Moulin Rouge (2001) was steamy?

I think the argument for Moulin Rouge comes from it being set in the Windmill and the fact that the edges of steampunk border the burlesque. I do think it's a good port of call for "movies for those seeking steampunk inspiration" in costume direction.

This is something I plan to remedy as I have already borrowed a copy of the series and will be watching it as soon as time permits. My remarks about "Firefly" were based on what little I knew about the bit's and pieces of episodes I had seen in the past specificaly the dress and overall aesthetics of the show.

I was probably more blunt than strictly necessary. Firefly get on my nerves whenever I think too hard about the world setting. I suppose it just frustrates me that no one else seems to really notice what to me is a mind-boggling huge omission that more-or-less ruins the series for me. I keep telling myself to switch that bit off and try to enjoy the characters and the story, but then they'll swear badly in Mandarin and I'll rant all over again.

[Captain Brandsson]

I was probably more blunt than strictly necessary. Firefly get on my nerves whenever I think too hard about the world setting. I suppose it just frustrates me that no one else seems to really notice what to me is a mind-boggling huge omission that more-or-less ruins the series for me. I keep telling myself to switch that bit off and try to enjoy the characters and the story, but then they'll swear badly in Mandarin and I'll rant all over again.

Attempt to think of it thusly:  If English speakers can alter the English language as much as they have over the course of a century or two, imagine what they would do to a borrowed language used almost strictly to curse.
Essentially, it is reasonable to assume that the usage would sound way off.

[costumemercenary]

Attempt to think of it thusly:  If English speakers can alter the English language as much as they have over the course of a century or two, imagine what they would do to a borrowed language used almost strictly to curse.
Essentially, it is reasonable to assume that the usage would sound way off.

But then why has English remained completely static? The argument doesn't really flow both ways. I suppose you can liken it to the Japanese, for example, who have a whole slew of badly-pronounced English loanwords. I suppose it's more that the Chinese swearwords are the only evidence of any Chinese influence on their culture and then the sheer lack of it get to me again. But the lack of any standard pronunciation is equally weird, if we're going for loanwords theory. Modern English has loanwords from French and there's usually a standard "French" and a standard "English" was to pronounce it (eg: tête à tête).

I grew up in a colonial/bilingual society. It just doesn't look like that. Maybe you really do just hate the Chinese so much that you only use their swearwords.

And what should I make of the lack of people of obvious Chinese-descent? They all intermarried to the point where they all looked Caucasian? They're all being far away and important and happy somewhere else? They're all still stuck on Earth-That-Was? That they all died out due to racial inferiority? That Joss Whedon doesn't listen to

his own songs	DQ

?

Again, if the series wasn't sold to me as "Look! You're Chinese, here's a thing you'll find cool! It has a world setting that has Chinese influences! It's about what happens if Space was colonised by the Chinese and the Americans!" Then my expectations would probably have been significantly lower.

I apologise for the tangent.

[polyglot]

I nominate Serenity
http://www.serenitymovie.com/

[Captain Brandsson]

But then why has English remained completely static? The argument doesn't really flow both ways.

Well, firstly, it is not the “borrowed” language and the situation does indeed bare some resemblance to the Japanese use of English you cited.
Secondly, the English usage is not entirely static as many phrases and usages are “odd” by contemporary standards.  My favorite example coming from Mr. Cobb: “This place gives me a great uncomfortableness.”
Thirdly, I am not really defending the errors so much as presenting a framework to ease your mind, somewhat.

[Cyberwolf]

Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but the SciFi (SyFy) channel TV show "Warehouse 13" has definite Steampunk elements. (http://www.syfy.com/warehouse13/)

And, while not SP per se, I'd recommend "The Final Cut (2004)" (Sci Fi film starring Robin Williams http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Cut_(2004_film)).  It definitely has some aspects of SP aethetics - especially the "Guillotine" computer, which is wood (http://www.wistfulwriter.com/2009/09/why-not-create-the-wooden-guillotine-computer-workspace/)

[Winston Smith]

I a thinking Warehouse 13 last Friday when watching re-run.
 Got Niel Gaiman 'Neverwhere' double DVD on Saturday, (eBay) definitely BBC production   (low budget)

[Hector Rincon-Ewards]

Not sure if someone had mentioned this BBC TV movie from a couple of years back:
The Ruby in the Smoke (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0498382/).
It is based on a Phillip Pullman novel (he's the Author of the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, of which Northern Lights/The Golden Compass is part of). The Ruby in the Smoke stars Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart a pretty 'modern' and clever heroine investigating a mystery in Victorian England. Definitely steamy! ... and a bit of a guilty pleasure.