Steamboy
User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 3 out of 24

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  1. RClemo
    Oct 23, 2005
    10
    Kind of like Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
  2. ChrisB.
    Mar 20, 2005
    7
    I wanted so much to give this a higher rating, but even with my normal anime-appreciative sensibility, I caught myself napping through much of the action. And worse, much of the movie I was hoping to see occured only in montage during the end credits.
  3. Torin
    Mar 20, 2005
    3
    As a longtime fan of Otomo's work, I must say that Steamboy is a lousy film to heap on the same public that adored Akira. The movie stands shakily on a nonexistent plot, endless tirades against capitalism, and fundamental misunderstandings of both Steam and Science. As a reminder
  4. CodyK.
    Sep 11, 2005
    5
    The movie is
  5. Eoin
    Oct 23, 2006
    6
    Not too bad. Great animation, not so great story.
  6. DanB
    Mar 24, 2005
    5
    It didn't suck.
  7. [Anonymous]
    Jul 26, 2005
    8
    It lacks the focus Akira, meaning it's hard to tell what the main point of the plot it, cause he just seems to switch sides all the time. However, there's plenty of eye candy and a good score. The themes of science's use are vague, but maybe katsuhiro otomo wanted a more open ended movie.
  8. RayS.
    Mar 11, 2006
    10
    Simply amazing in everything. The animation, score, the characters, and the story. This is the best film I saw in 2005 and in my opinion was better than Crash and King Kong. It's even better than Akira. The non - stop rush of action scenes and machinery absorbs you into the world of Steamboy.
  9. GerrickC.
    Jun 16, 2007
    9
    Easily one of the best anime movies ever. If you liked Akira you will like this movie.
  10. PiedroAillard
    Aug 27, 2010
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. teamboy is clearly a prequel to Laputa: Castle in the Sky. In Laputa, we see a flashback to ancient times when the flying castles dominated the skies. Steamboy tells the story of how the first flying castle was built, perhaps thousands of years before the events in Laputa take place. The level of technology in the world of Laputa has simply reverted back to that of Steamboy's world.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Robert K. Elder
    50
    Though Katsuhiro Otomo's animated Victorian-era adventure Steamboy stars British characters, it's a Japanese film through and through.
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  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Greg Bellavia
    60
    Perhaps the key to understanding where Steamboy goes wrong is in understanding why Otomo's previous animated feature "Akira" was such a success.
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Leslie Felperin
    60
    Dry storytelling and boy's-toys mechanics will stop this from being the next "Spirited Away"-style crossover hit.
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