It can be difficult to understand all of the many sub-genres of science fiction in existence, as the genre is incredibly broad and all-encompassing. Dieselpunk is one of the sub-genres that hasn’t been often explored in widespread media but is an intriguing one when it comes up.
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The dieselpunk name refers to a retro-futuristicstyle of science fictionthat mixes diesel-based technological appearance and aesthetic with a much more futuristic style of technology and sensibility. Dieselpunk media stretches from large-budget Hollywood movies to some of the very best Studio Ghibli work and is incredibly interesting to explore.
7Hugo
Martin Scorsese is easily one of the best directors in history, but one of his lesser-renowned works isHugo. Starring a youthful Asa Butterfield,Hugowas released in 2011 and is about a young orphan in Paris who is trying to get hislate father’s automaton working again.
The movie was hugely praised upon release but was a relative flop at the box office in spite of the excellent writing and the unique way it played with the dieselpunk setting. The impressive cast and nominations for multiple Oscars helped it find an audience and legacy despite the initial lack of interest.
6The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
One of the strangest superhero movies ever made, this 2003 adaption of Alan Moore’s comic book series,The League of Extraordinary Gentlemenis about a group of amazing literary characters and heroes that are brought together to try and stop a great evil from bringingabout the end of the world.
The setting of this movie was 1899 but with plenty of dieselpunk elements that helped it to financial success but unfavorable critical reviews. Starring Sean Connery as Allen Quartermain and a host of other stellar actors in various literary roles, the movie drew on the works of many of the greatest writers of all time but has yet to see any kind of sequel or reboot on-screen.
5Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
The first animated work of Studio Ghibli, which would go on to become known as the Japanese Disney andone of the greatest studiosworking in animation.Nausicaäwas set far in the future long after an apocalyptic war that burned the world. The movie followed a young princess coming into conflict with a neighboring kingdom that wished to destroy a great forest.
The dieselpunk elements of this futuristic tale helped hugely, with a beautiful style and setting that inspired much of Ghibli’s later works in animation. The story ofNausicaäwas a classic hero story that remains an incredible watch for animation and dieselpunk fans today.
4Sucker Punch
The dieselpunk sub-genre has always proven to create fantastical worlds that can scarcely be believed. In this case though, the story was set in the imagination of a character known as Babydoll, who is scheduled to have a lobotomy and slips into a fantasy world where she can fight her way out alongside other “patients” who she believes to be girls being sold into sex work.
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The impressive cast, visually-stunning style of director Zack Snyder, and a memorably strange world built for this movie didn’t help it in the end at the box office or with critics. It has since become a cult classic for many, however, particularly for Zack Snyder fans.
3The Rocketeer
The Rocketeeris a 1991 Disney movie starring Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connolly. It was about a 1938 stunt pilot who discovered a jetpack that enabled him to fly without a plane, and how he used it to go up against criminals including Nazi operatives. The world and Disney, family-friendly style helped to make this a memorable adventure.
Despite the nice usage of the dieselpunk sub-genre, the movie didn’t perform at the box office and sequel plans were scrapped at the time. However, there has been a resurgence of love for the movie since a TV show featuring a reprisal by Bill Campbell was released in 2019.
2Castle In The Sky
After the success of their previous movieNausicaä, it was aneasy call for Studio Ghiblito make another major animated work in the dieselpunk sub-genre.Castle In The Skywas about a pair of orphans fighting against dark forces and air pirates on their adventure to discover Laputa, a floating castle in the sky.
It is arguably one of the best dieselpunk movies of all time, having inspired so many works in the genre andvarious projectsacross the history of Japanese media. Hugely loved by anime fans, dieselpunk fans, and fans of great animation,Castle In The Skyis often cited as one of the best Japanese movies in history and is a great choice for anyone new to the dieselpunk genre.
The biggest budget work ever to be made in the dieselpunk genre, and also possibly the best creation of the genre,Mad Max: Fury Roadis an adventure about a man in a post-apocalyptic Australia who gets taken prisoner by an army of savages. He is then coerced into leading a group of young, pregnant women to freedom alongside the imposing Imperator Furiosa.
Mad Max: Fury Roadwas director George Miller’s masterpiece, and it took over $150 million to put together, but it was worth it. Not only did the movie manage to make money even on the huge budget it had, but it was also considered one of the best movies of 2015 andone of the greatest moviesin the history of the Sci-Fi genre because of the huge scale, incredible special effects and completely unique post-apocalyptic world it managed to build.
