Steampunk and Dieselpunk: Retrofuturism in Cinema

Steampunk and dieselpunk are two closely related genres that reimagine humanity’s technological progress through the lens of alternate history. Steampunk immerses us in a world of Victorian elegance, where steam-powered machines evolve into fantastical inventions. Dieselpunk, on the other hand, offers a grittier aesthetic of the early 20th century—a world of diesel engines, war machines, and noir vibes. These genres evolved side by side, influencing each other and often intertwining within the same works. What unites them is retrofuturism: a vision of the future as seen through the eyes of the past. In this video, I want to trace their shared journey through the world of cinema. Music by Anamnez:    / @anamnez   Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 The History of Retro-Futurism 02:13 The Rocketeer 03:09 The City of Lost Children 04:43 Waterworld 05:29 Wild Wild West 06:38 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 08:19 Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow 09:44 City of Ember 11:01 The Spy 12:18 Iron Sky 13:28 Mad Max: Fury Road 14:37 Mortal Engines 16:00 Poor Things #steampunk #dieselpunk #retrofuturism