Tannen Gang

A century of bad blood; a legacy where every generation picks up the baton—and the baseball bat.

The Tannen Gang is a recurring group of bullies and outlaws who appear across multiple time periods in the Back to the Future franchise. In 1955, Biff Tannen leads a gang of three high school boys, Match, Skinhead and 3-D, and bullies George McFly. The gang's composition and methods change with the era, but their role as antagonists to the McFly family remains consistent.

Lore & Background

The Tannen Gang's roots trace back to the 1880s, when Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (portrayed by Thomas F. Wilson) was one of Hill Valley's outlaws. In 1955, Biff Tannen (also portrayed by Wilson) harassed George McFly together with his gang of three high school boys, Match, Skinhead and 3-D. In 1985, Biff Tannen is a local bully who managed to alter history in the second film. The gang comes from a long line of bullies in Hill Valley, most of whom harassed members of the McFly family.

Reader's Guide

The Tannen Gang serves as the trilogy's recurring antagonistic force, embodying the enduring nature of bullying across time. Their objective is to dominate Hill Valley through fear and intimidation, with the McFly family as their perennial target. In 1955, under Biff Tannen, they became a greaser crew preying on high school students. Despite shifts in era, their role remains constant: to test the resilience of the McFlys and threaten the stability of the timeline.

Did You Know?

In 1955, Biff Tannen attempted to rape Lorraine Baines at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance.
George McFly knocked Biff Tannen unconscious during the 1955 dance, changing the timeline.