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Back to the Future 1985

A teenager is accidentally sent thirty years into the past and must ensure his parents fall in love to secure his own existence. With the help of a quirky scientist, he navigates the challenges of 1955 while trying to repair the timeline and return to his own time. His actions inadvertently threaten to erase him from history, leading to a race against time to restore the past and find a way back to the future.

A teenager is accidentally sent thirty years into the past and must ensure his parents fall in love to secure his own existence. With the help of a quirky scientist, he navigates the challenges of 1955 while trying to repair the timeline and return to his own time. His actions inadvertently threaten to erase him from history, leading to a race against time to restore the past and find a way back to the future.

Does Back to the Future have end credit scenes?

No!

Back to the Future does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Back to the Future

Explore the complete cast of Back to the Future, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Back to the Future

See how Back to the Future is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Back to the Future stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

87

Metascore

9.0

User Score

TMDB

83

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Back to the Future Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Back to the Future with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Back to the Future Quiz: Test your knowledge on the iconic film 'Back to the Future' and its time-traveling adventures.

What year does Marty McFly initially travel back to?

Awards & Nominations for Back to the Future

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Discover all the awards and nominations received by Back to the Future, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Back to the Future and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


The 58th Academy Awards 1986

Nomination

Music (Original Song)

Nomination

Sound

Win

Sound Effects Editing

Nomination

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)

39th British Academy Film Awards 1986

Robert Zemeckis
Nomination

Best Film

Robert Zemeckis
Robert Zemeckis
Nomination

Best Original Screenplay

Robert Zemeckis
Nomination

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Production Design

Nomination

Best Special Visual Effects

43rd Golden Globe Awards 1986

Nomination

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical

Michael J. Fox
Nomination

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actor)

Michael J. Fox
Nomination

Best Screenplay

Nomination

Best Original Song

Huey Lewis

13th Saturn Awards 1986

Nomination

Best Director

Win

Best Actor

Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Nomination

Best Supporting Actress

Nomination

Best Music

Nomination

Best Costumes

Nomination

Best Make-up

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Back to the Future

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Read the complete plot summary of Back to the Future, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In 1985, a teenager named Marty McFly finds himself grappling with common teenage struggles in Hill Valley, California. Living with his deeply troubled mother, Lorraine, who is plagued by depression and alcohol, and his siblings who have seen their ambitions fade, Marty’s reality often feels disappointing. His father, George, constantly bullied by the menacing Biff Tannen, adds to the gloom. After a disheartening audition with his band, Marty shares his fears with his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, admitting his worries about becoming like his parents, despite his innate ambition.

One pivotal evening, Marty’s life takes a turn when he meets his quirky scientist friend, Doc Brown, in the parking lot of Twin Pines mall. Doc unveils his latest invention: a time machine constructed from a DeLorean, powered by plutonium stolen from Libyan terrorists. However, their night takes a dark turn when they are confronted by armed terrorists, forcing Marty to escape in the DeLorean, accidentally triggering the time travel mechanism at 88 miles per hour.

Transported back to 1955, Marty finds himself stranded, having left the plutonium behind, making a return to 1985 impossible. As he navigates the lively atmosphere of his youthful Hill Valley, Marty meets a younger version of his father, George, distressed to witness the bullying he endures from Biff. In a particularly surprising moment, George becomes entangled in a near-accident while spying on Lorraine, who is changing clothes. In an effort to save him, Marty gets knocked out and wakes up to find Lorraine nurturing him, her infatuation for him blooming unexpectedly.

In search of a return path to his own time, Marty seeks out the younger Doc Brown, convincing him of his origins from the future. Doc reveals that the only means to harness the required energy for time travel in 1955 is a lightning bolt. Determined, Marty finds a flyer about an imminent lightning strike at the town courthouse, which could facilitate his return. However, he soon realizes that his meddling is altering the future: his siblings begin to fade from a photograph he carries, and it becomes evident that Lorraine was supposed to tend to George after his accident, not Marty himself. Despite their efforts, the attempts to rekindle the romance between his parents falter, with Lorraine growing strangely attached to her future son.

As Lorraine invites Marty to the school dance, he devises a plan to create a distraction that would give George a chance to save her. Unfortunately, things take a turn when Biff’s gang locks Marty in the band’s car trunk, allowing Biff to make unwelcome advances towards Lorraine. Just as George arrives and sees Biff engulfing Lorraine in abuse, he explodes with anger, knocking Biff out cold and leading Lorraine to the dance. In the meantime, Marty breaks free thanks to the lead guitarist, although he suffers a severe hand injury in the process. Undeterred, he steps onto the stage in Biff’s place, performing with extraordinary talent, while George finally shares a moment of affection with Lorraine. With his family’s future now secure, Marty rushes to meet Doc at the courthouse.

Upon arrival, Doc discovers the letter Marty had sent, warning him of impending danger, but unfortunately rips it to shreds out of concern. In a last-ditch effort, Marty recalibrates the DeLorean to return ten minutes earlier than his departure from the future. The anticipated lightning strikes, allowing him to journey back to 1985, but not without a glitch – the DeLorean breaks down, prompting Marty to race back to the mall. Arriving just in time, he witnesses Doc getting shot, overcome with despair. Yet, he soon realizes that Doc had deciphered Marty’s message and was wearing a bulletproof vest, ensuring his survival. After reviving, Doc brings Marty back home before vanishing into the future in the DeLorean once again.

The next day, Marty awakens to discover an astonishing transformation in his family’s dynamics. His father is now a confident science fiction novelist, his mother is healthy and glowing, his siblings flourish, and even Biff has been reduced to a meek servant in George’s employ. Just as Marty reunites with Jennifer, Doc Brown returns in the DeLorean, urging them to embark on a new adventure to rescue their children from an outdated disaster.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Back to the Future

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Back to the Future. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


2010 Re-Release Trailer

Theatrical Trailer

30th Anniversary Trailer

Official Digital Remaster Trailer

Theatrical Trailer

4K Trailer

BTS: "Germ Of The Idea"

BTS: Michael as Marty

BTS: Christopher Lloyd

BTS: Casting Tom Wilson

Back to the Future Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


time traveltime machinedelorean1980s1950shigh schoolyear 1985year 1955dr. emmett l. brown charactermother son relationshipclock towerteen comedyreference to star warsteenage girlfamous scorecastle thunderblockbustervideo cameraschool dancetime paradoxmarty mcfly characterfather son relationshiprace against timepart of trilogyparadoxclockinventorshopping mallpeeping tomheronational film registryplutoniummother son incest avoidedpay phonerube goldberg machinefirst of seriesproduct placementremote control carlove at first sightskateboardbullybreakfast machineflying carnuclear poweryoung loveoriginal storyperson in a car trunkfish out of waterjeepscientist

Back to the Future Other Names and Titles

Explore the various alternative titles, translations, and other names used for Back to the Future across different regions and languages. Understand how the film is marketed and recognized worldwide.


Aftur til framtíðar Vrnitev v prihodnost Terug naar de Toekomst Назад в будущee Повратак у будућност 빽 투 더 퓨쳐 빽 투 더 퓨처 백 투 더 퓨처 백 투 더 퓨쳐 バック・トゥ・ザ・フューチャー Volver al Futuro Gələcəyə Dönüş Retour vers le futur Zurueck in die Zukunft Regreso al futuro Retour vers le futur 1 Retour vers le futur I Հետ Դեպի Ապագա Het Depi Apaga Space Man From Pluto De Volta Para o Futuro Regresso Para o Futuro Назад у будучыню Zurück in die Zukunft Ritorno al futuro Назад в будущее Návrat do budoucnosti Vissza a jövőbe Regresso ao Futuro Návrat do budúcnosti Geleceğe Dönüş 回到未来 Επιστροφή στο Μέλλον Tillbaka till framtiden Paluu tulevaisuuteen Powrót do przyszłości Tilbage til fremtiden Завръщане в бъдещето Tilbake til fremtiden בחזרה לעתיד Tagasi tulevikku Povratak u budućnost Înapoi în viitor Назад у майбутнє De Volta para o Futuro 回到未來 Atgal į ateitį เจาะเวลาหาอดีต Atpakaļ nākotnē Kelajakka qaytib Retorn al futur Nazaj v prihodnost Trở Về Tương Lai العودة إلى المستقبل बॅक टू द फ्यूचर بازگشت به آینده უკან მომავალში

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