Back to the future might be the best feel-good sci-fi movie. A rip-roaring adventure that’s sure to make you laugh, cheer, and stay glued to the edge of your seat, the film remains the gold standard for time travel entertainment. Given its profound impact on pop culture, with theme parks, musical spin-offs, and video games following in the DeLorean’s fiery wake, it’s easy to forget how special the original film is. By 2024, it is clear that Back to the future is not just a great 80s movie, but a true timeless classic in every sense of the word.
As any self-respecting film fan knows, Back to the future follows the misadventures of Marty McFly – a 17-year-old rebel who struggles to reconcile his self-confidence and creativity with his unambitious and uninspiring family. His idiotic father is still tormented by a high school bully, his mother is an oppressed alcoholic, and his siblings are seemingly unable to leave the nest. His only respite comes from his relationship with his girlfriend and his friendship with the enigmatic scientist Emmett “Doc” Brown.
Marty’s uneventful existence is turned upside down when he becomes involved in one of Doc’s unpredictable experiments. The scientist reveals that he has successfully created a time machine, powered by plutonium and utilizing new flux capacitor technology to transport time. user at any point in history. Unfortunately, after explaining his device, Marty is sent 30 years back in time, where his presence has profound implications for both his parents’ lives and his own existence. Thus begins an adventure for the ages.
Back to the Future is the perfect mix of adventure and comedy
Like the decrepit DeLorean building at 88 miles per hour, Back to the future only gains momentum as the story develops. As Marty, Michael J. Fox is the ultimate teen hero – brave, intrepid, and vulnerable when the narrative demands it. He’s immediately likable and easy to root for, allowing us to immediately sympathize with what, on paper at least, is hardly a relatable situation. Much of the magic comes from the fact that a film seemingly about something as intangible as time travel also perfectly articulates all the strangeness and excitement of youth.
Equally compelling are Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson as Marty’s parents, George and Lorraine. In many ways, Glover is the true hero of the story, transforming from an oppressed jerk into a confident, charismatic winner – thanks to a little help from Marty. Meanwhile, Thompson deftly executes what could, in lesser hands, be an uncomfortably Oedipal subplot. about a mother who falls in love with her son, mining comedy gold in potentially strange territory.
Thomas F. Wilson is perhaps the ultimate pantomime villain, becoming one of the most punishable characters in cinema history – making his ending all the more satisfying.
Great performances occur throughout the film. Christopher Lloyd’s eyebrows deserve a special place in the science fiction hall of fame, as does the singularly emphatic way in which he declares “Great Scott!“whenever something threatens to go wrong. Thomas F. Wilson is perhaps the ultimate pantomime villain, becoming one of the most punishable characters in cinema history – making its ending even more satisfying. Placing these characters in a truly original science fiction story is a recipe for success and deservedly so. Back to the future one of the most beloved films ever made.
Back to the Future is surprisingly heavy for a sci-fi comedy
One of the most impressive things to watch Back to the future four decades later is how the film refuses to pull any punches. It would be easy for a light-hearted comedy about the consequences of time travel to aim for blandness and conventional digestibility. Yet throughout its history, Back to the future has an advantage this ultimately makes the film much more than your average teen melodrama.
…despite all the turbulent energy of the narrative, there is still a real darkness in the world that director Robert Zemeckis creates.
Biff’s intimidation, cartoonish and comical for much of the story, takes on a genuine threat when he tries to attack Lorraine. Likewise, the racist abuse of his gang’s hired band proves that for all the narrative’s turbulent energy, there is still a real darkness to the world that director Robert Zemeckis creates. Arguably, this is the key to making the film so profound. Despite his determination to pursue archetypal lessons of good versus evil, redemption and romance, Back to the future always feels grounded in reality. Its themes are instantly relatable for viewers of any age, whether they’re watching in 1985 or 2024.
Very few films manage to successfully combine unfettered entertainment with real emotional resonance. With its iconic characters, unforgettable contributions to the cultural lexicon, and an incredible soundtrack that will keep you singing long after the credits roll, Back to the future It’s a rare gem that still shines as brightly as the tire tracks left by the time machine.
- Fantastic performances, especially from Fox and Lloyd
- A rip-roaring story that still holds up
- Surprisingly heavy themes that keep the film grounded
- Some aspects, like the Libyans, do not hold up