Most people who know what steampunk is all about associate it with genre novels and Asian animated films. But you might be surprised at how many live action hit movies have significant steampunk elements.
By the way, for the uninitiated, dictionary.com defines steampunk as, “a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.”
Hugo (PG, 4/5 stars, currently $3.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy) – Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton. Based on the novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (unfortunately, not available in a Kindle edition).
The Golden Compass (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars, currently $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and talking Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands. Based on the novel of the same name from the His Dark Materials trilogy.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars, currently $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – In an alternate turn-of-the-previous-century fictional reality, Queen Victoria assembles some of the greatest criminal legends of the time to team up for a secret mission. Based on the celebrated Alan Moore graphic novel series of the same name.
Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army (both PG-13, 4/5 stars, currently $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – Hellboy is a giant, humanoid demon with great strength who’s fated to bring on the Apocalypse and usher in a hell on Earth. But Hellboy was taken in as a child and taught to value life, rather than destroy it, so he’s joined a secret government enclave along with other ‘gifted’ individuals to fight evil whenever and wherever it appears.
In Hellboy he’s up against a Nazi wizard who’s awoken an ancient, alien evil and intends to use Hellboy to seal his plans for world domination. In Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Hellboy takes on the heir apparent to an ancient race that’s been driven underground by man’s march of civilization, who now intends to wake The Golden Army, an indestructable troop of magical robot soldiers, to reclaim the world for himself and his people.
Both films are based on the bestselling graphic novel series of the same name.
The steampunk elements here are seen in Frankenstein’s monster, some of the weapons Van Helsing uses, and the machinery Dracula is trying to use to create vampire offspring, based on Dr. Frankenstein’s work in the reanimation of the dead.
This movie is also based on a popular and award-winning graphic novel series of the same name.