This is a page for organising the movies/descriptions from here (Conceptart.org forums)
Disclaimer: This list could help you with your research. But Films are an product of the entertainment industry and there is no claim of this being historical correct. You will need other(better) sources for real historical reference. For anything that is just inspired by some historical period it should be acceptable.
Hidalgo
— Reference on middle eastern/desert costumes and enviroment design — Reference on character design
The Shadow
— reference on 1930’s costumes and fantasy/steppes armour — reference on oldschool mechanical design and 1930’s enviroments
The Phantom
— reference on 1930’s costumes — reference on fantasy and 1930’s enviroments — reference on pirate/fantasy costume
Dark City
— reference on 1950’s costume and enviroments — reference on character/creature/mechanical design
== Cyberpunk/Near Future/Dysotopian
Death Machine
— reference on clean cyberpunk mechanical and enviroment design — reference on cyberpunk costume, armour and weaponry — reference on character design
Brazil
— reference on dysotopian/1984-type enviroments and costumes
1984
— reference on dysotopian/1984-type enviroments and costumes
Equilibrium
— reference on dysotopian/1984-type enviroments and costumes — reference on cyberpunk weaponry and martial arts
ExistenZ
— reference on biomechanical technology and weaponry
Aleksandr Nevskiy
— reference on medieval russian, monghol and german armour and costume
Conan the Barbarian
— reference on fantasy armour and weaponry — reference on character and creature design — heavily influenced by the designs of Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo
Excalibur
— reference on bulky full plate armour and medieval/fantasy costume
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
— Quidditch World Cup Stadium: impressive and interesting architecture design
— The three different school uniforms: distinctive (but stereotypical) design to strengthen the schools’ character
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
— reference on medieval plate armour, costume and weaponry
Musa the Warrior
— reference for medieval Monghol and Korean armour, weapons and costume
Willow
— reference on fantasy armour, costume and weapons — reference on character and creature design — heavily influenced by the designs of Luis Royo
Sleepy Hollow
—references on costumes, environments and characters
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
— reference on steampunk-type mechanical and enviroment design — reference on victorian/fantasy costume
Van Helsing
— reference on steampunk/victorian costume and weaponry — reference on creature and enviroment design
Vidocq
— reference on steampunk/french revolution costume and enviroment design — reference on character design
Hellraiser
— reference on horror/sm costumes — reference on horror enviroment and creature design — reference on character design
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
— reference on horror/sm costumes — reference on horror enviroment and creature design — reference on character design
The Thing
— reference on character and creature design
Cutthroat Island
— reference on pirate costume and weaponry — reference on pirate ships and enviroment design
The Blood of Heroes
— reference on postapocalyptic costumes, armours and weapons — reference on postapocalyptic enviroment design — reference on character design
Six String Samurai
— reference on postapocalyptic costumes — reference on character design
Dune
— reference on Sci-Fi costumes and weaponry — reference on creature, character and enviroment design
The Fifth Element
— good character/costumes/enviroment/mechanical design
Firefly
— Inara: Colour and design reference for costumes/dresses
— good reference for SF-western culture and design
Forbidden Planet
— reference on 1950’s Sci-Fi costumes and weaponry — reference on 1950’s Sci-Fi technical and enviroment design — reference on 1950’s Creature design