Back to the Future
A teenager travels back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean.
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction film directed by Robert Zemeckis and co-written with Bob Gale. The cast includes Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson. The story takes place in 1985 and centers on Marty McFly, a teenager who is accidentally transported to 1955 using a time-traveling DeLorean car built by his brilliant but odd scientist friend, Emmett "Doc" Brown. Once there, Marty unintentionally stops his future parents from meeting and falling in love, which threatens his own existence, forcing him to bring them together and find a way back 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 turned them down because the script wasn't considered risqué enough to stand out among the popular comedies of the day. Zemeckis eventually secured a development deal with Universal Pictures after his success directing *Romancing the Stone* in 1984. Fox was the original choice to play Marty but was unavailable, so Eric Stoltz was cast instead. Filming began in November 1984, but Zemeckis soon decided Stoltz wasn't right for the role. He made the necessary adjustments to bring in Fox, which meant reshooting scenes already completed with Stoltz and adding $4 million to the budget. The movie was shot in various locations around California and on sets at Universal Studios, wrapping up the following April.
Test screenings went extremely well, so the release date was moved up to July 3, 1985, to take advantage of the busiest moviegoing period of the year. This shift led to a hurried post-production schedule and some unfinished special effects. Despite that, *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 earned 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, also became a success.
Over time, the film's reputation has only grown, and it is now widely regarded by critics and fans as one of the greatest science fiction movies ever made and among the best films of all time. In
- release_year
- 1985
- director
- Robert Zemeckis
- writers
- Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale
- genre
- Science fiction
- country
- United States
- box_office
- $381.1 million worldwide
- academy_award
- Won one Academy Award
Lore & Background
Back to the Future was conceived by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis in 1980. The project was rejected more than forty times by studios because it was not considered raunchy enough. A development deal was secured with Universal Pictures after Zemeckis's success directing Romancing the Stone. Michael J. Fox was the first choice for Marty but was unavailable; Eric Stoltz was cast instead. Shortly after principal photography began in November 1984, Zemeckis determined Stoltz was not right and made concessions to hire Fox, including re-filming scenes and adding $4 million to the budget. The film was shot in and around California and on sets at Universal Studios, concluding in April 1985.
After highly successful test screenings, the release date was moved to July 3, 1985, resulting in a rushed post-production schedule and some incomplete special effects. The film 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 cast. 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.
The film has since grown in esteem and is considered 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. It was followed by two sequels, Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). The franchise now includes video games, theme park rides, an animated television series, and a stage musical.
Reader's Guide
Back to the Future is significant for its enduring popularity and influence on popular culture. It was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1985 worldwide. The film's story, humor, and cast were widely praised, and it 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. The film has since been recognized as one of the greatest science fiction films and among the best films ever made. In 2007, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. The film's legacy includes two sequels and a multimedia franchise encompassing video games, theme park rides, an animated television series, and a stage musical. Its dedicated fan following has prompted numerous books about its production, documentaries, and commercials.
Did You Know?
- The film was rejected more than forty times by studios before being picked up by Universal Pictures.
- Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly but was replaced by Michael J. Fox after filming began.
- The film's release date was moved to July 3, 1985, after highly successful test screenings.
- In 2007, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.
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