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Back to the Future Part III

Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how t... Read all Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered. Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered.

• Robert Zemeckis
• Michael J. Fox
• Christopher Lloyd
• Mary Steenburgen
• 422 User reviews
• 95 Critic reviews
• 55 Metascore
• 5 wins & 11 nominations

• Marty McFly …

• Dr. Emmett Brown

• Clara Clayton

• Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen
• (as Thomas F. Wilson)

• Maggie McFly …

• Barbwire Salesman

• Saloon Old Timer #3

• Saloon Old Timer #2

• Saloon Old Timer #1

• Marshal Strickland

• Linda McFly

• George McFly
• Buford Tannen's Gang …

• Buford Tannen's Gang
• (as Sean Gregory Sullivan)

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia When filming the scene where Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen tries to lynch Marty, Michael J. Fox was accidentally hanged, rendering him unconscious for a short time. He records this in his autobiography "Lucky Man" (2002).
• Goofs After Marty arrives in 1885, he eats dinner at his great-great-grandparents' house. During dinner, Maggie asks to talk to her husband privately in the other room. In that other room, wire hangers are hung on the wall behind them. Wire hangers were invented by Alfred J. Parkhouse in 1903.

Jennifer Parker : Dr. Brown, I brought this note back from the future and - now it's erased.

Doc : Of course it's erased!

Jennifer Parker : But what does that mean?

Doc : It means your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one, both of you.

Marty McFly : [Marty wraps his arm around Jennifer] We will, Doc.

• Crazy credits The film opens with all four versions of the Universal Pictures company bumper.
• Alternate versions The original 2002 DVDs for parts II and III had major framing errors when the wrong areas of the open-matte frame were transferred (known as the "framing fiasco"). This is noticeable for several minutes in each movie and usually manifests as too much sky and missing objects at the bottom. Universal had replacements ready by 2003. A sample from part III is the fuel injection manifold exploding out of the car, which is supposed to be visible. Copies with a "V2" next to the copyright notice on the disc (on replacements only; in trilogy sets a "V2" is on the II disc), the 2009 single-disc reprint, and the 25th anniversary sets are OK.
• Connections Edited from Back to the Future (1985)
• Soundtracks Doubleback Written and Performed by ZZ Top Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Available on Warner Bros. Records

User reviews 422

• Aug 9, 1999
• How long is Back to the Future Part III? Powered by Alexa
• When they realize that a single arrow has taken the Deloreon out of action, why don't they make a change to the DeLorean stashed in the old mine. And make a guard or something that will protect the gas line from ever being damaged? Or send another Western Union to 1955, with instructions for Marty to bring a spare full hose, and a 5gal jug of gas with him, when he travels back to 1885?
• Is there going to be a BACK TO THE FUTURE - PART IV?
• Why does Marty take the hoverboard to 1885?
• May 25, 1990 (United States)
• United States
• Official Site
• Sierra Railroad, Jamestown, California, USA
• Universal Pictures
• Amblin Entertainment
• U-Drive Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $40,000,000 (estimated)
• $88,277,583
• $19,089,645
• May 27, 1990
• $245,077,583

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 58 minutes
• Dolby Stereo

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How Back To The Future's Time Travel Works

If you read the words “time travel” on a site like CinemaBlend, you can almost be assured that one thing will instantly come to mind. With the smell of burnt rubber and a familiar twinkle of well-worn musical notes, you can bet that the Back to the Future trilogy is one of those things that almost immediately presents itself in the pop culture consciousness. But we’re not here to talk about whether or not Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s landmark sci-fi trilogy is good, we already know the original is one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. No, we’re here to talk about something much more important: how the time travel in the world of Doc Brown and Marty McFly actually works.

Better still, this academic exercise in temporal studies will open the door to even more examinations in how time travel works at the movies. Just as we’ve previously discussed with Avengers: Endgame , the subject of traveling through the past, present, and future of any given timeline is going to be something we’re going to invest a lot of time into. So if you like what you see here, there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow and/or yesterday waiting for you after! For now though, let’s go back… to the past, present, and future of Hill Valley, California!

The Time Travel In Back To The Future

Now, you can stop me if you’ve heard this story before, as Back to the Future itself has turned 35 this very year. However, a refresher is always a good idea when it comes to the moving pieces that you’ll see moving through the story of Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s legendary sci-fi trilogy. So here’s a quick and basic rundown of what happened throughout the Back to the Future saga:

Who's Time Traveling

Throughout the course of three movies, we see Einstein the Dog, Marty McFly (Sr), Doctor Emmett L. Brown, Jennifer Parker, Biff Tannen, and Clara Clayton all zoom back and forth through time. Oh, don’t forget Jules and Verne, Doc and Clara’s kids. This concerns them too, though just barely.

From When To When

For the intents and purposes of the Back to the Future series, “the present day” is 1985. From that particular point on the timeline, the Back to the Future trilogy’s time travel adventures span between the final film’s trip to 1885 to the then far flung future of 2015 . Two stops in 1955 and a trip to alternate 1985 also take place, because who would have thought time travel was such a dangerous, life altering thing?

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The Purpose Of Their Trip

It all started with a science experiment in Back to the Future , which saw Doc Brown testing his time machine to see if it’d work. But then, Marty McFly accidentally goes back to 1955, and has to correct the mistake of throwing off his parent’s first meeting and falling in love. That’s a simple enough beginning, but then Marty has a double shot of intentional time travel adventures, as Back to the Future Part II starts with Doc bringing Marty and Jennifer to 2015 to save their kids from going to jail, but leads to having to correct old Biff Tannen’s betting streak starting in 1955, and preventing Doc from being murdered by Mad Dog Tannen in 1885. Last, but not least, Marty has to go home to 1985 when all is said and done; because the time continuum.

How Time Travel Happens In Back To the Future

The two main methods of travel in Back to the Future’s trilogy are a converted DeLorean and a converted locomotive. Both vehicles, whether through nuclear radiation, burning garbage, or steam power, need to get to 88 miles per hour, and generate a charge of 1.21 Gigawatts in order to do the thing. When your vehicle of choice hits those milestones, you’re going to see some serious shit… time travel shit!

One very important thing to keep in mind is you need to be mindful of where you’re travelling. The exact spot you’re traveling from is where you’ll arrive when you reach the date of your destination, and what was once a mall parking lot in 1985 could be a pine tree farm in 1955. Hover conversion is recommended, so that whenever and wherever you’re going, you won’t need roads. And thanks to some script changes early on in the franchise’s history, you won’t need Coca Cola either!

Can History Be Changed As A Result Of Time Travel In Back to the Future?

Oh boy, can it. Throughout Back to the Future history, we’ve seen the McFly kids almost wiped out of existence, Doc Brown almost murdered over a simple amount of money, and an entirely different 1985 where Biff Tannen runs Hill Valley, and is rich beyond his wildest dreams. There is a lot of history that’s almost changed in the Back to the Future saga. However, some pieces of history do change permanently, and for the better. One of the most classic examples of the perils of time travel, the Back to the Future trilogy is a single timeline, rewritten as events progress.

Artifacts like photographs, faxes, and matchbooks change as quickly as events are being changed in the timeline. So the better your chances of seeing an event come to pass, the longer that evidence is going to stick around. See also: Jennifer’s fax from Back to the Future Part II surviving until the end of Back to the Future Part III , when a newly wisened Marty rewrites his future by not engaging in 1985’s fateful drag race.

What Are The Consequences Of Time Travel In Back To The Future?

While Back to the Future’s time travel was a messy affair, the end result could be seen as a net positive. And the consequences present themselves in very similar scenarios that hit three main characters in pretty unique ways.

Doc's Consequences

As Doc Brown, his wife Clara, and their sons Jules and Verne are still traveling through the whole of space and time in their souped up locomotive, this could lead to even more chaos throughout the timeline. That’s great for a film and media franchise, but that’s horrible if you want to sleep at night knowing you won’t have to adjust for a consequences of an accidentally generated tangent timeline. Still, Doc got a happy ending, finally finding himself bound to a family he never even knew he wanted until he met Clara, whisking her away to be his companion for all of time and space. Now, why does that sound so familiar ?

Marty's Consequences

Seeing the consequences of the actions his children, his enemies, and even his own self take in their lifetimes, he learns to have more confidence in himself. Marty, much like Doc, found himself a changed man, in relationships that will keep him grounded. But learning not to give in to his more impulsive nature, and to turn the cheek when called a chicken, puts Marty on the presumed path to success as a musician; instead of the working stiff he’d have become if he got into the accident with the Rolls Royce. Like famed science fiction author/father George McFly once said, when you put your mind to it… you can accomplish anything. Which brings us to the evolution of Marty’s father being one of the lynchpins of the Back to the Future series’ altered history.

George McFly's Consequences

George McFly never traveled through time, but he certainly benefited from time travel.

When George McFly and Lorraine Baines first meet, their relationship begins out of pity after he falls out of a tree… while trying to creep on an undressing Lorraine. The course of their love runs in a safe and predictable manner, with a first kiss acting as the highlight to their steady but waning romance. However, once Marty helps his young father discover confidence, and thanks to the timeline presenting George with the opportunity to dethrone Biff Tannen as the big dog, the new George and Lorraine McFly are a pair of lovers that embrace romance and confidence. Proving that so long as you follow the rules of time travel, and know how to play a ripping guitar solo 30 years before it’s ever invented, you too could change the future for the better.

Let's Do Another One!

So there you have it: the world of Back to the Future’s time travel explained, in a simple guide! It’s a process that’s so much fun, we here at CinemaBlend are dedicating ourselves to keeping this subject going. Time travel is a well-beloved staple in sci-fi, and with so many variants on the subject, it’s a handy topic to be an expert on… just in case you find yourself somewhere, or some time, you don’t belong.

If there’s any particular time travel stories you’d like to send to our labs for deconstruction, feel free to suggest them in the comments below! As for the next time you’ll see us in the mood for time travel, it feels like a good time for a Star Trek! And dear readers, if you thought we went on a tangent about tangent timelines this time out, just wait until we break down one of the most iconic installments of that series, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home .

Though that could always change, as the timeline could always skew in the course of events between here and now. Wibbley wobbley, timey wimey… stuff always comes up, and you never know where or when you’ll be until you get there. So until our next meeting, don’t swipe any sports almanacs, and if a crazy wild-eyed scientist or a kid show up asking about this write up, send them our way. We’ve got some further questions we need to ask them. See you in the future!

Mike Reyes is the Senior Movie Contributor at CinemaBlend, though that title’s more of a guideline really. Passionate about entertainment since grade school, the movies have always held a special place in his life, which explains his current occupation. Mike graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, but swore off of running for public office a long time ago. Mike's expertise ranges from James Bond to everything Alita, making for a brilliantly eclectic resume. He fights for the user.

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The Mind-Blowing Way Back To The Future III's Train Scene Was Actually Filmed

If you're a sci-fi movie fan, or you just had a typical cinematic upbringing in the 1980s and '90s, you're likely familiar with the climactic train scene in "Back to the Future III." The pivotal sequence, which depicts Doc Brown's time-traveling DeLorean being pushed to its crucial 88 miles-per-hour by an old-west locomotive, is a vintage Robert Zemeckis set piece that works so well you might not have ever put much thought into how exactly it was accomplished.

But, there seems to be no special effect that someone on the internet doesn't know the skinny on. While such a scene today would simply be filmed with CGI, and while watching the movie you might assume that they simply pushed a DeLorean down some tracks with a train, a set photo that was quietly posted to Reddit in 2018 reveals that the truth is a little more Hollywood-magical than any of those less-inspired methods.

The scene was accomplished by miniature photography

As seen in the photo posted to Reddit , the locomotive and DeLorean time machine were both miniatures, albeit quite large ones. Miniature effects used to be quite prominent in films before the advent of CGI, and when done well (as they are in "Back to the Future III"), they can be difficult to spot, especially if you aren't specifically looking out for them (via FXGuide ). 

If it's been a while since you've seen "Back to the Future III" and you're interested to see how the shot in question looks in the finished film, another helpful Reddit user named u/TooShiftyForYou  captured the sequence in GIF form , and added that the sequence uses the same shot of the train pushing the car three different times, but with different layers of visual effects added. This, combined with the construction and editing of the sequence itself, makes it less-than-readily apparent that a shot is being reused multiple times, let alone the miniature nature of the shot itself. 

Now that you've gotten a glimpse at how the scene was made, it might make it hard not to see the miniature effects the next time you watch "Back to the Future III." But hopefully this knowledge of the filmmaking craft that went into making the movie will make you appreciate it more, not less. 

• Dec 3, 2018

Scene of the Week: Back to the Future III Opening Scene

The Back to the Future Trilogy is up there with some of the best trilogies of all time. Films that use time travel as it’s premise can get very confusing and usually end up bombing, but not Back to the Future . These films make time travel easy to understand whilst keeping that element of complexity we all love about this fictional invention. This is highlighted perfectly in the the end of Part II / opening of Part III, which is why I have chosen this moment as my Scene of the Week .

What makes this scene so special is that is starts where Back to the Future Part I ends, in the 50’s, with scientist Doc Brown just about managing to send Marty McFly back home to the future he has come from. Due to certain events of Part II, we see McFly back in the 50’s as he was sent back again soon after he had arrived back from this era. With the time machine which Part II Marty came in being sent back in time to the 1800’s by accident, Marty finds himself stranded in the 1950’s. Thankfully Marty is familiar with this era, due to being sent back there before, therefore he goes to meet the young Doc Brown, where he originally left him in Part I, creating this brilliant scene which merges two scenes from two films…

As mentioned before, the scene starts with a familiar site, of Doc sending Part I Marty back to the future. The scene is exactly how we saw it in the first film. We see Doc struggling to connect two wires together to channel a lightning strike into the time travelling DeLorean which is carrying Marty, allowing him to be sent home. Just as the DeLorean hits the critical speed of 88mph, Doc manages to connect the cables, channeling enough energy into the car sending it successfully through time. Doc, relieved with the success, celebrates in the street, in between the iconic fiery tyre tread-marks, with a slow version of the iconic Alan Silvestri theme playing in the background. This scene alone is incredible, but it is made that much better when we see Marty from Part II come running round the corner behind Doc, with the unforgettable chimes played as Marty is revealed. As Silvestri's score picks up into the version we all know and love, Marty grabs Doc and spins him round. Doc, at first is confused by what he sees, but comes to quickly enough and screams in Marty’s face. “Okay. Okay! Relax, Doc! It's me! It's Marty!” yells the teenager. “No! It can't be! I just sent you back to the future.” cries Doc, leading Marty into a the goosebump providing quote - “I know. You did send me back to the future, but I'm back. I'm back from the future.” Allowing Doc to reply with his iconic saying “Great Scott!” just before fainting.

Like many of the scenes we review here at Life of Films, there is always an iconic score making it that much better. When it comes to Back to the Future , the music doesn’t get anymore iconic. Alan Silvestri, the composer, has done many memorable scores, but Back to the Future is without-a-doubt his best work, with the main theme being used for this perfect scene. Like John Williams Superman theme, Silvestri’s theme for this trilogy will live on forever.

This incredible scene is certainly complex, but what makes it so great is how well it is put together, making it incredibly easy for the audience to understand. This is the running theme for the Back to the Future , which is why it is so successful. It is clearly made with the audience in mind, and that is why it triumphs. The films aren’t trying to impress, they are just taking the viewers on an incredible journey, which many, like myself, want to ride time and time again.

#BacktotheFuture #SotW

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Scott Thill

Inside Back to the Future 's Novel Take on Time Travel

“[Director Robert Zemeckis] and I quickly came to the conclusion, ‘You know what? It’s not about the visual effects,'” says Back to the Future producer Bob Gale in the video. “It’s not about how long does it take them to travel through time. Because traveling through time should be instantaneous.”

Unlike other films with dizzying time-travel special effects, Back to the Future ‘s version, created with the help of Industrial Light & Magic , translated mostly into flaming tire treads, a flash of light, glowing neon and not much else.

The approach paid off: Back to the Future became one of the most successful sci-fi films in history, empowered by the manic comedy of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

Win Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy

We’re teleporting five free copies of the $80 Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy Blu-ray collection, which hits stores Oct. 26, to five clever readers who let us know in the comments section below what they think about Back to the Future ‘s conception of time travel.

With a caveat: No one should make the argument that Eric Stoltz should have stayed in Marty McFly’s time-traveling DeLorean . That spaceship has sailed. Entries must be received by 12:01 a.m. Pacific on Oct. 27, 2010.

Eric Stoltz’s Marty McFly Gets Dissected in Back to the Future Reissue

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13 back to the future plot holes & time travel paradoxes (& which ones have been fixed).

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I'm delighted this underrated $439m transformers movie is now a netflix hit - it deserved better, inside out 2: first reactions to new pixar sequel are in.

Like all time travel stories, Back to the Future has several plot holes and time travel paradoxes, and these 13 are the biggest ones. Due to the nature of time travel and constantly changing timelines, Back to the Future has to keep track of a lot of small details, but some manage to slip through the cracks. Luckily, the Back to the Future trilogy has fixed some of these plot holes and paradoxes, although others are still in existence.

The Back to the Future trilogy mainly takes place in four different time periods. 1985 is the present across all three movies, while Marty and Doc travel to 1955, 2015, and 1885 throughout the trilogy. Due to the constant traversal between the past, present, and future, all kinds of alternate Back to the Future timelines are opened throughout the franchise, leading to some serious paradoxes. So, here are the 13 biggest plot holes and paradoxes from the Back to the Future series as well as which ones were fixed.

13 George & Lorraine Should Recognize Their Son As Marty McFly

One of the biggest plot holes in the Back to the Future series is that George and Lorraine McFly should have definitely realized that their son looked exactly like Calvin Klein in 1955. Although they didn't know Marty's alternate 1955 persona for long, he played a big role in both of their lives. Because of this, it is strange that neither of them ever mentioned how familiar Marty looked, although it makes sense that they wouldn't leap to the idea that Marty was a time traveler.

Related: Why Back To The Future Has Aged So Well (When So Many Scenes Haven't)

12 Marty McFly Shouldn't Have A Hairdryer In 1955

One plot hole that frequently gets brought up is that Marty McFly shouldn't have a hairdryer in 1955, although this has actually been fixed. In the first film, Marty puts on a sci-fi costume in an attempt to scare the 1955 version of George McFly. However, part of his costume is a handheld hairdryer, which shouldn't exist in 1955. The creators of Back to the Future answered this question , explaining that a deleted scene featured Marty pulling a hairdryer out of a suitcase that 1985 Doc put in the DeLorean.

11 The Clock Tower Should Work After Marty Gets Back To 1985

The broken clock tower is one of the most important elements of Back to the Future , with it ceasing to work after being struck by lightning in 1955. However, Marty and Doc change history by rerouting the lightning to Marty's DeLorean, sending him back to the future. Because of this, the clock tower should work when it is seen in Back to the Future Part II , although it is still broken for some unexplained reason.

10 Old Biff's Fate Was Never Revealed

A massive plot hole from Back to the Future Part II is that Old Biff's fate was never revealed, with him simply walking away after returning to 2015. This is another detail that is actually explained by a deleted scene. Since Old Biff gave Young Biff the sports almanac, this changed the future, meaning that Old Biff would cease to exist. Because of this, a deleted scene showed Old Biff falling over and fading away, although it was cut from the final film.

9 Marty Didn't Have To Steal The Almanac On November 12, 1955

The second half of Back to the Future Part II is pretty tense, with it following Marty as he tries to steal the sports almanac from Biff on November 12, 1955. Marty chooses this date because it is when Old Biff gives Young Biff the almanac, but choosing November 12, 1955, adds a lot of unneeded stress to the situation. Biff didn't use the almanac until several years after he got it, meaning Marty could have simply traveled to a time when it was unoccupied and taken it that way.

8 Old Biff Went Back To The Wrong 2015

Another paradox surrounding Old Biff is that he returned to his original 2015 timeline after giving Young Biff the sports almanac, but this actually shouldn't happen. Since Old Biff changed the future, 2015 should be completely different, but it looks the same when Biff returns. The creators have also explained this, saying that the timeline would either change around Old Biff or that the neighborhood he was in simply looked the same despite the timeline changes.

7 Old Marty & Old Jennifer Shouldn't Exist In 2015

Back to the Future Part II introduce Old Marty and Old Jennifer, introducing one of the series' biggest paradoxes. 1985 Marty and Jennifer meet 2015 Marty and Jennifer when traveling to 2015, but their older selves are from a timeline where they didn't travel to 2015. Since 1985 Marty and Jennifer did travel to 2015, this version of their older selves shouldn't exist and they should have been replaced by an Old Marty and Old Jennifer that did travel to the future when they were younger.

6 The DeLorean Time Travels Without Going 88MPH In Back To The Future 2

In Back to the Future II , the DeLorean time machine spins around before time traveling away, breaking the rule that DeLoreans must go 88 miles per hour to time travel. As it turns out, though, this problem has been fixed. Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis have explained that the DeLorean doesn't necessarily have to be moving forward 88 miles per hour, and since it was spinning at that speed, it was able to time travel.

5 There Are Two DeLoreans In 1885

One of the franchise's most famous plot holes occurs in Back to the Future Part III 's 1885 timeline. During the film, there are actually two DeLoreans in the same location: Marty's DeLorean as well as the DeLorean Doc used to travel to 1885. Although they are both broken, Doc and Marty could have combined parts from the two cars in order to make one that worked, solving the film's problems much faster.

4 Doc Brown Should Know About Einstein In Back To The Future 2

In Back to the Future Part III , 1955 Doc smirks when he learns that his future dog is named Einstein. However, Einstein was in the tape that Marty showed 1955 Doc in the first film, meaning that he should have already known this. This plot hole has also been fixed, with the creators explaining that Doc simply didn't see or remember this part of the tape.

3 Doc's Tombstone Shouldn't Exist In Back To The Future 3

In Back to the Future Part III , Marty sees Doc's tombstone from 1885, opening up another paradox. Since Marty went back in time to prevent Doc's murder, the tombstone shouldn't exist, meaning that 1985 Marty would have never seen the tombstone and gone back to 1885 in the first place. This massive paradox ruins the movie's story, although the tombstone had to exist in order to serve as the story's inciting incident.

Related: Back To The Future: Doc's Death Plot Hole Explained

2 Clayton Ravine Should Have A Different Name If Clara Lives

In Back to the Future Part III 's main timeline, teacher Clara Clayton falls into the Shonash Ravine, causing it to be renamed Clayton Ravine. However, when Doc travels back in time, he falls in love with Clara and consequently prevents her from dying. When 1985 Marty sees Doc's grave, he is in the timeline where Clara lived, yet he still knows about the Clayton Ravine legend. Since Clara never died, Marty's knowledge of Clara's death shouldn't exist, and it should still be named Shonash Ravine. However, the franchise's creators have clarified that time travel doesn't affect memory, which is an odd but valid solution.

1 Doc Should Know That "Mad Dog" Tannen Is Going To Kill Him

The final major plot hole and paradox in the Back to the Future series occurs in the third movie, where Doc is killed by "Mad Dog" Tannen. The version of Doc that is killed comes from 1985, meaning that when Marty tells 1955 about Doc's death, 1985 Doc should know as well. Because of this 1985 Doc would be able to prevent "Mad Dog" Tannen from killing him, negating Marty's reason for traveling back to 1885 in the first place. While many of Back to the Future 's plot holes and paradoxes are confusing, this one is one of the most straightforward.

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Back To The Future 3 Movie – My Review

Cristina Boros May 30, 2016 21 Comments

Time Travel Movies

Alan Silvestri , Back to the future 3 movie , Bob Gale , Christopher Lloyd , DeLoreran , Emmett Brown , Lea Thomson , Marty McFly , Michael J. Fox , Robert Zemeckis

Hello, time travel fans 🙂 I have just watched Back to the Future 3  movie and I thought you would like to read my review about it.

Every time when I see a film from this trilogy – I have a wonderful time. This movie always gives me a good laugh and as many times as I have seen it, I never get bored of it.

A few words about the film

The third part of the Back to the Future trilogy was released on 25 May 1990. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Neil Canton and Bob Gale.

The screenplay was written by Bob Gale and the writers were Bob Gale and Zemeckis.

The music was composed by Alan Silvestri and it won the Saturn Award for Best Music.

The movie won also the 1990 Best Supporting Actor for Thomas F Wilson and in 2003 AOL Movies DVD Premiere Award for Best Special Edition of the year

Very successful, the film made 244.5 million dollars worldwide with a budget of 40 million.

But let’s see this time what Marty’s adventure was 🙂

We go back to 1955. Marty McFly finds out that Doc Emmett Brown is trapped in 1885 from a letter that the scientist sent him with a Western Union courier.

Trying to save him, Marty and Doc from 1955 (again I confuse you:-) use the letter to locate the DeLorean and try to repair it. They see a tomb with Doc’s name on it and they find out that Dr. Brown was killed six days after the letter by Biff Tannen’s great-grandfather Buford ‘Mad Dog Tannen’.

Marty decides to go back to 1885 to save him.

Back in 1885…. The Wild West

Marty travels to 1885, on 2 nd September when an American cavalry was chasing Indians.

His DeLorean runs out of fuel and Marty hides it in a cave and walk to Hill Valley to find Doc.

On his way, he meets his Irish Great-Great Grandparents, first generation in the USA, Seamus, and Maggie McFly. Marty tells them that his name is Clint Eastwood and Seamus agrees to help him to find his friend, Doc, who is working as a blacksmith.

Marty also has a confrontation with Buford and his gang and when he is ready to be hanged by them, Doc saves him.

Dr. Brown agrees to leave 1885 but there is a small problem 🙂 The gasoline is not available yet and the DeLorean couldn’t reach 88 miles per hour to power the time travel circuits.

Dr. Brown comes up with a plan to use a train locomotive to push the DeLorean until it reaches the required speed.

While exploring the rail spur they wanted to use (actually a broken bridge) Doc saves a lady, Clara Clayton, from death and they fall in love. Later on, at a town festival where Doc is dancing with Clara, Buford tries to kill him, but Marty saves him. Buford provokes Marty to a fight with the guns in two days, first light in the morning.

Doc advises him to not get mad about being called a chicken, yellow or anything like this because this will cause him an accident in the future.

Looking to the photograph of Doc’s tomb, his name disappeared but the date was still there. This means somebody will still die at that time. Dr. Brown tells his friend that he may be the one that Buford kills.

They plan to leave as soon as possible when the next train is coming which is exactly in the morning when Buford was waiting for Marty at the local bar to fight. The night before Doc and Marty place the DeLorean on the rail spur preparing everything for their departure.

Doc went to Clara to say goodbye and he decides tot tell her the truth, the real reason why he is leaving. He tells her that he is from the future but she thinks that it is just a stupid excuse to not see her anymore, that he is making fun of her, taking advantage of the fact that she was an admirer of Jules Verne’s fantasy books. She gets really angry.

Sad, Doc went for a drink in the bar and spends all night there talking about the future, but not drinking. In the morning, Marty is looking for him when he finds him and convinces him to leave together to 1985.

One single shot of whiskey took Doc and he passes out. Buford calls Marty to the duel outside but he refuses. Finally, after drinking a wake-up juice, made from the bartender, Doc revives and tries to take Marty to escape from 1885.

Buford’s gang captures Dr. Brown trying to make Marty to fighting. As in the other 2 films, Buford (Biff) is knocked into a wagon full of manure and he destroys the tombstone. After this, he is arrested for a robbery.

Mission Completed. Back to 1985

The mission is complete and the two friends are ready to go back home, but they need to ’borrow’ the locomotive to push the DeLorean.

Now, what happened with Clara?

Angry, she decides to leave the town. On the train, she overhears a man talking about the night doc had, and saying how heartbroken he was because of a woman named Clara. She stops the train and runs to find him but when she goes to his place she finds only his time machine model.

Clara understands that he was not lying and tries to find him. Marty and Doc were pushing the DeLorean when she finds them, and she jumps in the locomotive. They were trying to reach 88 miles per hour to leave but when he saw her Doc tells her to come to him towards the front of the train towards the DeLorean.

As she climbs, Clara falls and hangs by her dress and Doc goes to help her. With the help of the hover board, they are both saved when the locomotive falls from the unfinished bridge but Marty goes back to 1985 without his friend because they don’t have time to reach the DeLorean.

Arriving on 27 October 1985, the car is destroyed by a train coming on the same bridge, now finished, one hundred years later.

He goes to Jennifer’s house and finds her sleeping just as he left her in the last adventure, on her front porch.

Marty learns his lesson, from 1885, not let himself be provoked by the word Chicken. When Douglas J. Needles tells him to go for a race, he remembers the accident he had, from 2015, which we saw it in the second film, Back to the Future 2   and he avoids the race.

When Jennifer looks at the paper she had in her pocket with the word Fired, the word erases and she understands that the adventure they had in 2015 was not a dream after all.

Marty takes Jennifer to the time machine, what was left of it anyway, and a locomotive with a flux capacitor appears, with Doc, Clara and their two children Jules and Verne on board.

Dr. Brown gives Marty a photo with the two of them by the clockworks in 1885 at the night of the festival and when Jennifer asks about the fax and if Marty will lose his job, he says that the future is not yet written, that we make out own future.

After this short visit, Doc disappears with his lovely family somewhere in time 🙂

Did you know that…

The idea of the western theme for the Back to the Future 3 came to Zemeckis during the filming of the first movie, Back to the Future 1 , when he asked Michael J. Fox where he would like to time travel most, and he said he would like to go to the Old West to see the cowboys

The filmmakers built the 1885 Hill Valley from the beginning and the western scenes were filmed in Monument Valley.

And some things that for sure you don’t know

The design in Marty’s shirt (the embroidery) has two symbols for atomic energy on the chest.

• When filming the scene where Marty is hanged by Buford he was accidentally hanged to the point to pass out and everybody thought was just an excellent acting.
• The DeLorean time machine used in the movie is hanged upside down on Planet Hollywood.
• Doc Brown tells Marty that his origin is from the Von Brauns but when they came to the USA, because of the 2 nd World War they change the name to Brown. Wernher von Braun was a German scientist which assisted the Americans in 1950 in their journey to space and who designed the rocket V2 of the Second World War.
• M.R. Gale was the newspaper editor in 1885 in Hill Valley, and Buford Tannen shot his predecessor. His name is a reference to the name of the writer Bob Gale
• Bob gale said ‘ In trying to figure out Part 3, we decide that we’ve done everything we could with Marty’s family; let’s concentrate on Doc and let’s do the most insane thing anyone could imagine – Doc Brown in love. In fact, Back to The Future3 it was Christopher Lloyd’s first onscreen kiss.’

  Michael J. Fox – as always, the only Marty Mc Fly

Christopher Lloyd – as the unique Dr. Emmett Brown (Doc)

Mary Steenburgen – as Clara Clayton

Thomas F.Wilson – as Bufford Tannen, Biff

Lea Thomson – as Maggie McFly and Lorraine McFly

James Tolkan – as Marshal James Strickland

Elisabeth Shue – Jennifer Parker

Jeffrey Weissman – as George McFly

I hope you enjoyed my review and I am sure you will have a Back to the Future marathon night soon 🙂

Thank you for reading and any comments or questions you have are always welcome.

As a Back To The Future fan I am sure you will also like:

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21 Comments

Hi Christina

This is a good review of Back to the Future Part 3. I have seen this movie a good number of times, and it’s quite a classic to say the least. I just thought I’d point on here that the picture that’s on here is from Part 2 where Marty goes to 2015. That too was a good movie.

I also want to add a Did you know that… trivia point: There was a scene where Marshal Strickland was brutally shot by Mad Dog Tannen. It didn’t make the final cut of the movie due to the scene being quite graphic as it would make this movie more of a borderline PG13/R rating. Just my $.02.

Overall, I would like to thank you for this review and also say, good job!

yes I know about this scene and you can see it on dvd :-))thanks for reading and I am glad that you enjoyed it

What a great review Cristina! I absolutely love the entire Back to the Future trilogy of movies. Unlike many other movies that are more than one, B2TF does not lose any level of excitement and comedy.

Lots of times a part 2 will not be as good as a part 1 and so on. But all three of these movies are great. Thanks for posting that trailer of part 3. I may just go and watch that again.

yes you are right :)not many sequels or trilogies are good all the episodes:) love it too and i have watched it many many times:)) i am glad that you enjoyed my article:0 see you around 🙂 other reviews are coming:)

I absolutely love the Back to the Future movies. We went to see them in the theater again last October =-) Loved seeing it on the big screen! I like that you added some facts to your review. I had no idea that Michael actually passed out in that hanging scene! Good grief that’s scary!

thanks for reading and i am glad that you like my review. I love this trilogy too are wonderful films you can enjoy them no matter your age 🙂

on the big screen are really cool the special effects;) you are roght:)

Hey it’s Alexey! The review gave me a really good taste of what this serie is about. I am nota big fun of this category of films but after reading some facts about this film and the idea, I think I will give it a try. I really enjoyed reading this review and I think you should make similar reviews to other categories for fighting and war films. There are lots of great ones there as well. Thanks 🙂

you are welcome and thanks for the idea:)) thanks for reading and for your nice words:))

Hi Cristina, It was so fun to read, nicely done. I saw this movie in my childhood for about 15 times, and you made me watch it again (already downloading it 🙂 But the part that I enjoyed the most is “Dis you know that…” I never know all this stuff and thanks for sharing. Keep up with the great writing.

i am very happy that you like it :))) soon more reviews more wonderful films:)) thanks for reading:))

It sounds like “Back to the Future lll” movie is going to be a movie you are going to want to see. The problem I have with movies is the 2nd or 3rd is not going to be as good as the first movie. Not so with “Back to the Future” Tilogy! The original movies had a good combination of comedy, drama, and mystery. It looks like they were able to replicate their trilogy and then some! I guess I’ll be going to the show with my grandsons… Thank you, Edward Mijarez

this movie has something special . even the 2nd and the 3rd movie …..are the same quality are very good and you enjoy it the same:)))i hope you will have a good time

Oh yeah, the nostalgia just kicked me in the… head so hard 🙂 Let me just purchase it quickly, get something to eat and sit in front of my TV for several hours of greatness!!! Thank you for this review, Cristina, I’m going to have an amazing weekend – I’ll watch all three of them!

Btw, would you like it if the trilogy were re-made? I know re-makes are often bad, but there are exceptions… maybe.

i think i don.t like a remake. nothing is like the original. nobody like marty mc fly:))) i wait also to finish the summer job and to have a trilogy night with a bear and a pizza:))

Aw, you’re probably right. About the re-make, I mean. And you’re totally right about getting a beer and a pizza 🙂

I enjoyed this movie very much! It’s got that timeless feeling about it! Great review on a great movie!

i love this movie too 🙂 i am glad that you liked my review and if you look you will find more reviews . I hope you enjoy it 🙂 if you have any question, you want to know anything about any film,just ask 🙂 thanks for reading:)

I haven’t even watched the 3 yet and I’m ashamed of myself.. But wild west and time travel is a pretty interesting theme!! It reminds me, maybe not the same concept but, Westworld. Have you watched it? It’s AMAZING and it’s the most precise thing that can come in mind when iit comes to Sci-Fi and wild west :))

To be honest i haven’t watch Westworld. I have to admit it. I will and I will tell you my opinion. Sounds interesting. About Back to the future 3, is good , you will sure enjoy it. Michael J Fox can’t go wrong and also Christopher Lloyd . Great both of them. The movie concept is very interesting.

So have a nice time travel night:)) You can’t miss such classics. Tell me your opinion after.

Nice to meet you .

I was looking around for an illustration for a post and came upon your screenshot. I was delighted to see myself in this one. Not many screenshots get taken that actually contain my image! I’m the face in the background beside the clock. Best way to travel in time is to work in a movie about it! Especially one that cared so much about authenticity. They put so much into that set that never got seen on screen. Cheers!

Hello There 🙂 Thanks for your nice words:) I love this movie:)

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37 Things to Look for the Next Time You Watch Back to the Future

By sean hutchinson | jul 26, 2018.

Fans of pop culture have undoubtedly watched the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown countless times before. They’ve pored over each time Michael J. Fox’s quintessential 1980s teen travels back in time to 1955 in a souped-up DeLorean created by Christopher Lloyd’s bumbling mad scientist. They’ve memorized all the lines in director Robert Zemeckis and co-screenwriter Bob Gale ’s indelible (and Academy Award-nominated) script. But they might not have noticed these tiny details, which you should look out for next time you watch Back to the Future .  

1. DOC BROWN’S CLOCKS ARE ALL PERFECTLY SYNCHRONIZED.

Look at the clocks in Doc Brown’s garage in the opening scene and you'll notice that they're all set 25 minutes behind. One of the clocks features a man hanging from its hands, an allusion to silent comedy star Harold Lloyd’s famous scene from the 1923 film Safety Last . It also foreshadows the later scene where Doc hangs from the Hill Valley clock tower in the same way. Unfortunately the similarities stop there: Christopher and Harold aren’t related.

2. STATLER TOYOTA IS A RUNNING GAG.

A radio ad in the opening scene mentions Statler Toyota, the car dealership with the Toyota 4x4 seen in 1985 Hill Valley's main square (in the improved 1985, Marty later owns the truck).

There's also a Statler dealership in every iteration of Hill Valley throughout the  Back to the Future trilogy: Honest Joe Statler's Fine Horses in 1885, Statler Studebaker in 1955, and Statler Pontiac in 2015.

3. STANLEY KUBRICK GETS A NOD

The sticker on the amp Marty plugs into in Doc’s garage says “CRM 114,” which is a nod to director Stanley Kubrick . In Kubrick's films, the CRM-114 Discriminator is a fictional radio device in Dr. Strangelove . It’s also the homophone "Serum 114," the experimental drug given to Alex (Malcolm McDowell) in A Clockwork Orange ; and it’s the serial number of the Jupiter explorer in 2001: A Space Odyssey .

4. MARTY’S INTO SOVIET ART.

The black and red badge Marty wears on his denim jacket says “Art in Revolution,” which was a Soviet art and design exhibition that was held at London’s Hayward Gallery from February to April in 1971 .

5. ROBERT ZEMECKIS GAVE A NOD TO ONE OF HIS OTHER MOVIES.

As Marty skitches on the fender of a Jeep in the town square, a sign reads “Used Cars,” which is the name of a 1980 movie directed by Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Gale.

The newscaster seen on the TV in the opening sequence is actress Deborah Harmon, who appeared in Used Cars.

6. MAYOR RED THOMAS FELL ON HARD TIMES.

When Marty sees the tramp on the bench in 1985 he shouts out the name “Red,” which could indicate this character is Red Thomas, the mayor of Hill Valley in 1955.

The photo of Thomas on his 1955 reelection campaign is actually Back to the Future’s set decorator, Hal Gausman.

7. THE GUY WHO THINKS MARTY IS "TOO DARN LOUD" PROBABLY LOOKS FAMILIAR.

The school administrator with the megaphone who chides Marty’s band, The Pinheads, for being too loud is singer Huey Lewis in his first acting role. The scene had an added irony as Lewis made The Pinheads stop playing his own song, “Power of Love,” which appeared on the  Back to the Future soundtrack.

Marty also has a poster for the Huey Lewis & the News album “Sports” in his bedroom, and when Marty wakes up after getting back to the future in the improved 1985, Lewis’s soundtrack song “Back in Time” plays on his alarm clock radio.

8. SOME CREW MEMBERS GOT BACKGROUND SHOUT-OUTS.

When Marty and Jennifer walk across the town square parking lot after his failed audition, a license plate on a green car in the background reads 'FOR MARY,' which is a nod to Mary Radford, the PA to the film’s second unit director Frank Marshall.

Another reference to one of the crew can be seen on a poster on the wall of the high school in 1955, which reads 'Ron Woodward for Senior Class President.' Ronald T. Woodward was the film’s key grip, and had previously worked with Zemeckis on Romancing the Stone .

9. HILL VALLEY’S DIRTY MOVIES STARRED A REAL LIFE BACK TO THE FUTURE ACTOR.

Hill Valley’s Essex movie theater is playing the movie, Orgy American Style in 1985, and that isn’t just some set decoration. It’s a real 1973 pornographic film starring George 'Buck' Flower, the actor who plays Red in Back to the Future.

The Town Theatre, Hill Valley’s other cinema (which is turned into a church in 1985) is showing a 1954 Mickey Rooney film called The Atomic Kid in 1955—just before Marty goes back to the future.

10. UNCLE ‘JAILBIRD’ JOEY IS USED TO BEING BEHIND BARS.

Lorraine serves the family a cake for Marty’s unseen uncle Joey in 1985, which was supposed to celebrate his freedom from prison before he didn’t make parole.

Joey’s penchant for the slammer is brought up again when Marty sees baby Joey in 1955 when his mother says, “Joey just loves being in his playpen. He cries whenever we take him out so we just leave him in there all the time.”

11. THE MCFLYS LOVE MEATLOAF.

Marty’s dinner when he arrives home in 1985 is the same dish Lorraine and her family eat when he meets them in 1955. Marty technically eats the same dinner two nights in a row in two different years. In early drafts of the script, Marty hated meatloaf.

12. LORRAINE LAYS OUT THE PLOT.

During the 1985 dinner, Lorraine essentially lays out the plot of the entire movie. Linda asks, “How am I supposed to ever meet anybody?” and Lorraine responds, “Well, it will just happen. Like the way I met your father.” Then Linda responds, “That was so stupid, Grandpa hit him with the car,” to which Lorraine says, “It was meant to be. Anyway, if Grandpa hadn't hit him, then none of you would have been born.”

Based on Marty’s time traveling, with his brother and sister disappearing from a photo he keeps in his pocket, this is exactly what he’s trying to fix.

13. THE MCFLYS ARE BIG FANS OF THE HONEYMOONERS .

The 1985 McFlys watch the same episode of The Honeymooners as the 1955 McFlys. The episode, entitled “ The Man From Space ,” foreshadows the moment when Marty dresses up to scare George into taking Lorraine out on a date. The episode actually aired on December 31, 1955, which is over a month after Marty travels to the past on November 5, 1955. Oops!

14. MARTY LOVES PEPSI FREE.

The caffeine-free soft drink, which was phased out in real life in 1987, can be seen on Marty’s headboard when he wakes up late for Doc’s experiment, and he then tries to order one from the bewildered owner of Lou’s Cafe in 1955.

He also has trouble opening an old-fashioned capped bottle of Pepsi at the Hill Valley gas station, but George helps him. It was likely that Marty would even have trouble opening a bottle in 1985—twist-off caps weren’t invented until 1988 .

15. WHAT’S THE NAME OF THE MALL?

Marty shows up to witness Doc’s science experiment at the Twin Pines Mall, but when he returns later after going back to the future, it’s the Lone Pine Mall. That’s because Marty destroyed one of Old Man Peabody’s dual pine trees on the 1955 farmland where the mall is located in 1985. In real life it’s actually Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry, California.

16. ZEMECKIS AND GALE MUST LOVE THE NUMBERS ONE AND 21.

When Einstein the dog is sent a minute into the future, his stopwatch indicates that one minute and 20 seconds has elapsed. Einstein also reappears at 1:21a.m. using the 1.21 gigawatts of energy from the Flux Capacitor.

17. DOC’S BUMPER STICKER IS PROPHETIC.

It reads: "One Nuclear Bomb Can Ruin Your Whole Day," which is appropriate since the plot of the movie hinges on stolen plutonium that results in Doc's death. The nuclear reaction needed to generate 1.21 gigawatts really did ruin his day.

18. DOC DROPS A HINT FOR BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II .

During the experiment, Doc tells Marty, "I've always dreamed of seeing the future, looking beyond my years, seeing the progress of mankind. I'll also be able to see who wins the next 25 World Series.”

This ends up being a plot point in the sequel when 1955 Biff strikes it rich with knowledge gained from the Grays Sports Almanac stolen from 2015.

19. DOC’S GUN LOOKS FAMILIAR.

The pearl-handled handgun Doc uses to try to shoot the Libyans in the mall parking lot is the same pistol he uses at the drive-in theater to time Marty’s trip to the old west in Back to the Future Part III . Maybe it jams because it’s a 30-year-old gun?

20. THERE'S A ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE HOMAGE.

His name isn’t said out loud, but Old Man Peabody’s son is credited as “ Sherman ,” a direct reference to Mr. Peabody and Sherman, the time-traveling cartoon duo from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle , which first aired in 1959.

21. SHERMAN IS A FAN OF SOME CLASSIC COMIC BOOKS.

The fictional Tales from Space comic book Sherman uses to explain the time machine to his father sports the logo of legendary Tales from the Crypt publisher EC Comics.

22. ROY’S RECORDS DID SOME TIME TRAVELING, TOO.

When Marty drops in on 1955 Hill Valley he first sees Cattle Queen of Montana on the Essex theater marquee, a 1954 film starring Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan—a great set-up to Doc’s befuddled reaction to the future president a few scenes later. Marty also spots Roy’s Records with four album advertisements in the window.

One is the 1954 reissue of Nat King Cole’s “ Unforgettable ,” but the other three are anachronisms: The Chordettes’s self-titled compilation wasn’t released until 1959 , “ Eydie in Dixieland ” by Eydie Gorme wasn’t released until 1959, and “ In the Land of Hi-Fi ” by Patti Page wasn’t released until 1956.

23. HILL VALLEY’S PHONE BOOK NEEDS A COPY EDITOR.

The 1955 phone book spells Doc’s name wrong—it should be Emmett, not “Emmet.” At least they get his occupation right!

24. DOC BROWN LIVES IN AN ARTS AND CRAFTS MASTERPIECE.

Doc’s original house at 1640 Riverside Drive (or John F. Kennedy Drive if it’s 1985) is actually a historic landmark in Pasadena, California called the Gamble House. Designed by architects Charles and Henry Greene for James Gamble of Procter and Gamble fame, it’s a prime example of the Arts and Crafts architectural movement made famous in the late 19th century.

25. DOC'S GARAGE IS OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE.

A newspaper clipping in the opening scene says Doc’s mansion somehow mysteriously burned down and the surrounding land was sold off, which is why he’s resorted to living in the property’s old garage at 1646 John F. Kennedy Drive in 1985.

Later, Doc tells Marty, “It's taken me almost 30 years and my entire family fortune to realize the [time machine],” so we can infer that Doc, along with the proceeds from selling off the surrounding land, burned down his mansion to collect the insurance money to fund the creation of time machine.

26. DOC KEEPS HIS MENTORS CLOSE.

The same framed photos of Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Edison above Doc Brown’s mantel in 1955 can be seen above his bed in the retrofitted garage bungalow in 1985.

27. THAT FANTASTIC STORY IS REAL.

The issue of Fantastic Story Magazine we see next to a sleeping George when Marty wakes him up as Darth Vader from the Planet Vulcan is genuine: It’s the Fall 1954 issue. It cost 25 cents. Marty’s yellow alien getup will eventually inspire the cover art character for George’s 1985 book, “A Match Made in Space.”

28. (EDWARD) VAN HALEN IS ACTUALLY PLAYING THE GUITAR.

The tape Marty uses to scare George is an actual uncredited solo by guitarist Eddie Van Halen . The band Van Halen wouldn’t allow their name or music to be used in the film (thus the added “Edward” on the label), but the guitarist allegedly gave Zemeckis an outtake to use from a song called “ Donut City ” he created for the score for the 1984 film The Wild Life.

29. BIFF AND HIS ANCESTORS ARE USED TO MANURE THROUGH THE AGES.

The Statlers aren’t the only multi-generational small  business owners in Hill Valley. Biff has run-ins with D. Jones Manure Hauling trucks in 1955 in the original movie and Part II , while Mad Dog Tannen falls into an A. Jones Manure Hauling truck in 1885 in Part III.

30. DOC NEVER BUILDS HIS MODELS TO SCALE.

When Doc runs Marty through his time machine plan with models in the garage in his 1955 garage laboratory, he says, “I didn't have time to build it to scale.” When Doc says the same line in Part III (with the same car toy model), Marty finishes his sentence by saying, “Yeah, I know, Doc. It’s not to scale.”

31. DOC’S INJURIES ARE IMPORTANT TO TIME TRAVEL.

The bandage on Doc’s forehead when Marty shows up to his house in 1955 is from his eureka moment of his idea of the Flux Capacitor when he fell and hit his head in the bathroom while hanging a clock. The toilet is later seen in Part II when Marty returns to 1955 for the second time.

32. DOC SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON HIS OTHER INVENTION THAT DIDN’T WORK.

The time machine wasn’t Doc’s only invention. Schematics for Doc’s faulty brainwave machine can be seen strewn across his house and garage. Marty later wears Doc’s brainwave machine in Part III .

33. THAT MAN ON THE BIKE MIGHT LOOK FAMILIAR.

The guy riding by Doc and Marty in 1955 as the former tells him not to tell him what happens in the future just before the lightning storm looks kind of like Doc...because he is Doc. This is 1985 Doc Brown who meets his younger self in Part II .

34. MARTY MIMICS MORE THAN JUST CHUCK BERRY AT THE ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA DANCE.

Marty essentially invents rock ‘n roll music by mimicking Chuck Berry to his fictional cousin, Marvin Berry. But he also shocks the teeny boppers of 1955 Hill Valley by kicking over the speakers as a homage to The Who’s Pete Townshend, and he also plays his guitar lying down like Angus Young of AC/DC.

35. SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THE DELOREAN’S STARTER.

When he gets to 1955, Marty has to get rid of the DeLorean because, as he tells Doc, “Something [was] wrong with the starter, so I hid it.” This explains why the DeLorean suddenly stops working just as he’s about to go back to the future in the climax of the movie.

36. MARTY REMEMBERS DOC’S BULLETPROOF VEST TRICK.

Doc reads Marty’s ripped-up note in 1955, knowing he’ll die in 1985 unless he wears a bulletproof vest against the Libyans. Doc’s life-saving vest maneuver foreshadows Marty’s own makeshift bulletproof vest (made out of an iron stove cover) in Part III .

37. THE CLOCKTOWER LEDGE IS A LITTLE WORSE FOR WEAR.

Doc does permanent damage to the clocktower ledge during the lightning storm in 1955, which wasn’t there in the initial 1985 timeline, but can be seen still damaged in the improved 1985 at the end of the movie.

• View history

Back to the Future

The original movie, released in 1985, introduces time-travelers Doc Brown & Marty McFly.

Read more >

Back to the Future Part II

The second installment, released in 1989, has Marty destabilize the timeline when he travels to the future.

Back to the Future Part III

The third installment, released in 1990, has Doc & Marty get trapped in the year 1885.

Futurepedia is the Back to the Future Wiki, and we are dedicated to providing detailed information on the movie trilogy , the animated series , and all other continuity. We are a community of fans, and we welcome those who wish to help improve and expand Futurepedia for all to enjoy.

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