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Back to the Future

Play trailer 1:31 Poster for Back to the Future PG 1985 1h 56m Comedy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 115 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the '50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he'll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown.
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Critics Consensus

Inventive, funny, and breathlessly constructed, Back to the Future is a rousing time-travel adventure with an unforgettable spirit.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Oct 31
4.5/5
40 years later, Future is as fun as ever, but Marty’s anxiety – and having to confront seeing himself reflected in his father – reveals a sneakily resonant story of self-doubt and self-discovery. Go to Full Review
Pauline Kael The New Yorker 06/28/2023
What pushes Back to the Future over the edge from so-so to oh-no is its willing complicity in the continuing glorification of the '50s. Go to Full Review
Marsha McCreadie Arizona Republic 06/28/2023
Remember how Huck Finn daydreamed about going to his own funeral? Back to the Future does an inverse, witty turnabout on this theme. Go to Full Review
Giancarlo F. Ciprian Cinencuentro Nov 5
Back to the Future is, in addition to being an iconic film whose elements now form part of retro culture, a reflection on the passage of time and the vindication of the past. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Fred Topel United Press International Oct 28
On a deeper level, Back to the Future is about patterns that repeat throughout your life. If you don't break them, you're doomed to pass them on generationally. Go to Full Review
Brian Viner Daily Mail (UK) Jul 9
5/5
Back To The Future offers a reminder not just of a classic comedy but also of the value of tenacity and self-belief. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lonny Nov 27 Love this movie so happy it was back in theatres for the 40th anniversary See more Joe Nov 27 The throw back was great had a great time however the seats were really worn out torn, and uncomfortable See more bryan Nov 26 looked better than ever! See more Jose G Nov 24 Best movie of all time See more Brian Nov 20 Fantastic iconic movie thanks for bringing it back to the big screen!! See more Sigurd Ruskedal Nov 18 I love the time traveling effects and the music it was crazy See more Read all reviews
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Back to the Future

Movieclips: Back to the Future's Best Scenes Movieclips: Back to the Future's Best Scenes 22:02 Back to the Future: Official Clip - The DeLorean Back to the Future: Official Clip - The DeLorean 1:22 Back to the Future: Official Clip - Back In Time Back to the Future: Official Clip - Back In Time 2:03 Back to the Future: Official Clip - Johnny B. Goode Back to the Future: Official Clip - Johnny B. Goode 2:57 Back to the Future: Official Clip - 1.21 Gigawatts Back to the Future: Official Clip - 1.21 Gigawatts 2:46 Back to the Future: Official Clip - Back to the Future Back to the Future: Official Clip - Back to the Future 3:04 Back to the Future: Official Clip - You're George McFly! Back to the Future: Official Clip - You're George McFly! 2:59 Back to the Future: Official Clip - You Leave Her Alone Back to the Future: Official Clip - You Leave Her Alone 2:59 Back to the Future: Official Clip - I'm From the Future Back to the Future: Official Clip - I'm From the Future 2:52 Back to the Future: Official Clip - The Libyans Find Doc Brown Back to the Future: Official Clip - The Libyans Find Doc Brown 2:41 View more videos
Back to the Future Part II 63% 86% Back to the Future Part II Watchlist TRAILER for Back to the Future Part II Back to the Future Part III 79% 78% Back to the Future Part III Watchlist TRAILER for Back to the Future Part III Coneheads 40% 38% Coneheads Watchlist The Money Pit 50% 58% The Money Pit Watchlist The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 61% 65% The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the '50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he'll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown.
Director
Robert Zemeckis
Producer
Bob Gale, Neil Canton
Screenwriter
Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 3, 1985, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 31, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 8, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$224.9M
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Surround
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