Back to the Future
A 1985 time-travel film about a teenager fixing his parents' romance.
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film. Robert Zemeckis directed it and co-wrote the screenplay with Bob Gale. The cast includes Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. The story is set in 1985 and centers on Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally transported to 1955 inside a time-traveling DeLorean car. The vehicle was built by his brilliant but odd scientist friend, Emmett "Doc" Brown. While in the past, Marty unintentionally stops his future parents from meeting and falling in love, which puts his own existence at risk. He must then find a way to bring them together and return to his own time.
The idea for the film came to Gale and Zemeckis in 1980. After a string of unsuccessful projects, they were eager for a hit, but more than forty studios rejected the script because it was not considered risqué enough to compete with the popular comedies of the time. A development deal finally came from Universal Pictures after Zemeckis found success directing *Romancing the Stone* in 1984. Fox was the original first choice to play Marty but was unavailable, so Eric Stoltz was cast instead. Filming began in November 1984, but Zemeckis soon decided Stoltz was not a good fit. He made the necessary changes to hire Fox, which meant reshooting scenes already filmed with Stoltz and adding $4 million to the budget. The movie was shot in and around California, as well as on sets at Universal Studios, and wrapped up the following April.
Test screenings were very positive, so the release date was moved up to July 3, 1985. This gave the film more time in theaters during the year's busiest season but also forced a rushed post-production schedule, leaving some special effects unfinished. Despite this, *Back to the Future* was a hit with both critics and audiences, earning $381.1 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1985. Reviewers praised the story, humor, and performances, especially those of Fox, Lloyd, Thompson, and Glover. The film received several award nominations and won an Academy Award, three Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award. Its theme song, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News, was also a big success.
Over time, the film's reputation has grown, and it is now widely regarded by critics and fans as one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made, as well as one
- Release year
- 1985
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Writers
- Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale
- Lead actor
- Michael J. Fox
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Box office
- $381.1 million worldwide
- Awards
- Academy Award, three Saturn Awards, Hugo Award
Lore & Background
Gale and Zemeckis conceived the idea for Back to the Future in 1980. They were desperate for a successful film after numerous collaborative failures, but the project was rejected more than forty times by various studios because it was not considered raunchy enough to compete with the successful comedies of the era. A development deal was secured with Universal Pictures following Zemeckis's success directing Romancing the Stone (1984). Fox was the first choice to portray Marty but was unavailable; Eric Stoltz was cast instead. Shortly after principal photography began in November 1984, Zemeckis determined Stoltz was not right for the part and made the concessions necessary to hire Fox, including re-filming scenes already shot with Stoltz and adding $4 million to the budget. Back to the Future was filmed in and around California and on sets at Universal Studios, and concluded the following April.
Reader's Guide
After highly successful test screenings, the release date was brought forward to July 3, 1985, giving the film more time in theaters during the busiest period of the theatrical year. The change resulted in a rushed post-production schedule and some incomplete special effects. Nevertheless, Back to the Future was a critical and commercial success, earning $381.1 million to become the highest-grossing film of 1985 worldwide. Critics praised the story, humor, and the cast, particularly Fox, Lloyd, Thompson, and Glover. It received multiple award nominations and won an Academy Award, three Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award. Its theme song, 'The Power of Love' by Huey Lewis and the News, was also a success. Back to the Future has since grown in esteem and is now considered by critics and audiences to be one of the greatest science fiction films and among the best films ever made. In 2007, the United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. The film was followed by two sequels, Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). Spurred by the film's dedicated fan following and effect on popular culture, Universal Studios launched a multimedia franchise, which now includes video games, theme park rides, an animated television series, and a stage musical.
Did You Know?
- The project was rejected more than forty times by various studios.
- Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly before being replaced by Michael J. Fox.
- The film's release date was moved to July 3, 1985, after highly successful test screenings.
- The DeLorean time machine required 1.21 gigawatts of power, generated by a lightning bolt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Back to the Future?
It is a 1985 American science-fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis in which a teenager is accidentally sent to 1955 inside a DeLorean and must repair his parents' romance to preserve his own existence.
Who stars in Back to the Future?
Michael J. Fox plays the lead role of Marty McFly, with Christopher Lloyd as his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown and Lea Thompson as his future mother.
What is the central conflict in Back to the Future?
While stranded in 1955, Marty inadvertently prevents his future parents from meeting and falling in love, which puts his entire place in the timeline at risk of being erased.
How does Back to the Future end?
Marty succeeds in getting his parents together, secures his spot in the family, and makes it back to 1985 with his life and future fully restored.
Why is Back to the Future considered a landmark teen sci-fi film?
Co-written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale and released in 1985, it went on to earn roughly $381 million worldwide and became a defining cultural touchstone for the time-travel genre.
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