Steamboy

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Steamboy

PG-13

Released Mar 18, 2005

2h 5m

Sci-Fi

Anime

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Popcornmeter

61%

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92 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

England of the 1860s receives a technological remake in this animated adventure. Ray (Anna Paquin) is a brilliant young inventor who follows in the footsteps of his father, Eddie (Alfred Molina), and his grandfather, Lloyd Steam (Patrick Stewart). After his grandfather sends him a mysterious mechanical ball that contains revolutionary power, Ray finds his world turning upside down. It seems a lot of people want that power, and not all of them have good intentions.

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Critics Consensus

The story isn't the greatest, but there's an abundance of sci-fi eye candy to compensate.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Matthew Leyland

BBC.com

It may be one of the most expensive anime features ever, but there isn't a wealth of entertainment on offer in Steamboy.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

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J. Hoberman

Village Voice

It's a sensationally designed piece of work.

Aug 19, 2005

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Grace Han

Asian Movie Pulse

“Steamboy” is just as much a masterwork as “Akira” — only with better technology and a stronger sense of morality. It’s truly a shame to think of how this feature has somehow eluded the attention of Western viewers for so long.

Rated: 4/5

May 25, 2022

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Mark Steyn

The Spectator

This film has steam but it generates no heat.

Jan 25, 2018

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Luke Spafford

Starburst

The rendering of the characters and backgrounds is so rich and precise, that at times, it skirts into the third dimension.

Rated: 9/10

Dec 14, 2017

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Jay W

"Steamboy" follows James Steam, and his father, Eddie Steam and grandfather Lloyd Steam. The latter two had invented a ball that releases an endless supply of steam. The steam from that ball powers their steam engines. As the movie starts, there is too much steam coming out of the pipes, and they try to adjust the valves to control the steam, but the steam breaks the pipes, releasing steam everywhere. The only way this movie could be more "steam" is if I was watching it on my steam deck while taking a hot shower and having some steamed hams from Albany.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

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Liam D

It definitely feels like animes that have came before but it’s still very entertaining

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

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Frank C

The art was great, but the story made no sense at all.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/09/24

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Alejandro E

El alegato pacifista, sobre el uso indebido de la tecnología de innovación, no estará a la altura de la obra maestra Akira pero, las secuencias de acción, el guion en sí y el arte conceptual justifican bien el esfuerzo.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/01/23

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Audience Member

" who are the enemies ? " "Arrogance and self- interest creates enemies in your own mind "

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Ending doesn't make sense, the ideology of every characters is never fully described and changes so quickly that you just don't care anymore

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Katsuhiro Ohtomo

Director

Anna Paquin

James Ray Steam

Alfred Molina

Dr. Eddie Steam

Patrick Stewart

Dr. Lloyd Steam

Robin Atkin Downes

David

Kari Wahlgren

Scarlett O'Hara

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Synopsis

England of the 1860s receives a technological remake in this animated adventure. Ray (Anna Paquin) is a brilliant young inventor who follows in the footsteps of his father, Eddie (Alfred Molina), and his grandfather, Lloyd Steam (Patrick Stewart). After his grandfather sends him a mysterious mechanical ball that contains revolutionary power, Ray finds his world turning upside down. It seems a lot of people want that power, and not all of them have good intentions.

Director: Katsuhiro Ohtomo
Producer: Shinji Murai, Hideyuki Tomioka
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Sunrise VAP
Rating: PG-13 (Action/Violence)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $410.4K
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SRD, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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