Back to the future is one of the most popular and influential film franchises of all time, but that wouldn't have been the case if the 1985 film had used the studio's suggested alternative title. Given how iconic the Back to the future It's the movies, it's easy to forget how many things had to line up for the first movie to work so well. From the project's passing through Disney to the redesign of Marty McFly, the story behind Back to the future There are a lot of “what ifs”.
Back to the future was a box office success and became the highest-grossing film of 1985. Although none of the sequels were as successful as the first film, they were good enough to make Back to the future in one of the best film trilogies of all time. Still, it's hard to imagine that Back to the future It would have become so big if it had used the title suggested by then-Universal Studios head Sidney Sheinberg.
Back to the Future Was Almost Called Pluto Spaceman
A Universal Studios executive wasn't sure about the title of Back to the Future
During manufacturing Back to the futureSheinberg argued that the film should not be called “Back to the future”, which was the title of the script, and should have a more traditional and commercial title. The executive believed that Back to the future it was too restrictive a title and would limit the film's scope. Sheinberg feared that Back to the future would automatically be associated with time travelwhile something like “Pluto Spaceman”It would sound more like a science fiction film and have a broader appeal.
Back to the future has become associated with the time travel genre, but this has only added to the franchise's legacy.
Sheinberg didn't want Back to the future be labeled as a genre filmalthough the film was really about time travel. Interestingly, not only was Back to the future largely successful, but remains one of the best time travel films of all time. Countless films and TV shows about time travel have referenced Back to the future since 1985, being a recent example Avengers: Endgame. Back to the futureThe title didn't limit the film's reach, probably because the film delivered on what it promised and more.
Pluto Spaceman Would Have Damaged Future Franchise Potential
“Back to the Future” was perfect not only for the film, but also for the franchise
Back to the future It's a science fiction film, but"Pluto Spaceman" It wouldn't have done justice. Besides Marty McFly changing history and having his father write a science fiction novel called "A match made in space" there is practically nothing in Back to the future This would have justified the “Pluto Spaceman" title. Furthermore, despite Sheinberg's concerns about Back to the future sounding very much like a genre film, it works much better than Pluto Spaceman would have.
Even though Pluto Spaceman had been exactly the same movie as Back to the future Without the titles, I probably wouldn't have been as successful. Back to the future It's such a clever title given the context of the film, especially its ending, and it fits perfectly with the sequel's cliffhanger at the end. Back to the future has become associated with the time travel genre, but this has only added to the franchise's legacy.