Exactly forty years ago today, the first film in the Back to the Future franchise hit theatres, rewriting the concept for a science fiction blockbuster. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg, the 1985 movie introduced the world to Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), and a modified DeLorean powered by plutonium that could cross time.
While the film was an instant box office success, earning over $381 million in 1985, making it the highest-grossing movie worldwide, despite a rushed post-production schedule and incomplete special effects. What followed was the birth of a cult classic that would influence generations of filmmakers, technologists, and fans alike.
With its ambitious blend of science fiction, teen comedy, and 1950s nostalgia, ‘Back to the Future’ won the hearts of its viewers for its adventurous originality. The film received high accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, aside from three other nominations, in 1986.
For its focus on storytelling instead of pure spectacle, Back to the Future was considered the most entertaining film released that year: a statement that only corroborates itself on understanding how it became a part of the cultural lexicon, remaining a cornerstone for pop culture even forty years down the line. There are references to the film at every turn - from ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Rick and Morty’ to presidential addresses and Nike’s limited edition self-lacing sneakers. Back to the Future is now considered by critics and fans alike to be among the best films ever made.
The DeLorean DMC-12, widely considered a commercial flop when it debuted, has become one of the most recognisable cars in film history. Merchandise from hoverboards to flux capacitor replicas continues to fly off the shelves, attesting to the franchise’s enduring appeal.
While films in the trilogy famously predicted that 2015 would be filled with flying cars, many of its other imagined technologies, like the ‘video telephone’, holographic billboards, and wearable tech, have eerily come true. Tech innovators have cited the film as inspiration, proving that ‘Back to the Future’ did not predict the future but shaped it.
Despite persistent rumours, Zemeckis and Gale have stood firm against any reboot or sequel after the third part of the trilogy. But the franchise has continued to evolve in other ways. In 2021, a musical adaptation of the film opened in London’s West End, which later premiered on Broadway in 2023 to rave reviews. From 1991 to 1992, an animated television series based on the film aired on CBS.
In pop culture, the film’s influence is in every corner. The British pop-rock band McFly revealed that they were named after Marty McFly. The 2011 novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and its 2018 film adaptation (directed by Spielberg) were heavily inspired by Back to the Future. A 2018 poll by The Hollywood Reporter revealed that 71% of its participants wanted a Back to the Future sequel even over Toy Story or Indiana Jones.
As Back to the Future turns 40, the nostalgia that comes with remembering one of the most iconic films of all time could serve as a reminder of cinema’s power to imagine and realise worlds beyond our reach. In the words of Doc Brown: “Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one.” Forty years later, Back to the Future does just that.
