IMDb > Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future
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Back to the Future (1985) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 77 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11)
Back to the Future -- Teaser trailer
Back to the Future -- Before casting Micheal J. Fox as Marty McFly, the role was originally played by Eric Stoltz.
Back to the Future -- In 1985, Doc Brown invented time travel, in 1955, Marty McFly accidentally prevented his parents from meeting, putting his own existence at stake.
Back to the Future -- Marty wakes up in his mother's bed wearing his underwear.
Back to the Future -- Marty McFly makes a skateboard and escapes from Biff and his gang by running them into a manure-filled truck.

Overview

User Rating:
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Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Robert Zemeckis
Writers:
Robert Zemeckis (written by) &
Bob Gale (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Back to the Future on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 July 1985 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi See more »
Tagline:
He's the only kid ever to get into trouble before he was born. [UK] See more »
Plot:
A teenager is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 13 wins & 24 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(3095 articles)
L.A. Screenings: The Upfronts At a Glance
 (From Variety - TV News. 20 May 2013, 7:45 AM, PDT)
The Flaws of Fault Finding Film Criticism
 (From Flickeringmyth. 19 May 2013, 6:09 AM, PDT)
Comeback Review – Ed Brisson and Michael Walsh
 (From Obsessed with Film. 19 May 2013, 3:00 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Gotta get back in time! Get back Marty! See more (642 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Michael J. Fox ... Marty McFly

Christopher Lloyd ... Dr. Emmett Brown

Lea Thompson ... Lorraine Baines

Crispin Glover ... George McFly

Thomas F. Wilson ... Biff Tannen

Claudia Wells ... Jennifer Parker

Marc McClure ... Dave McFly

Wendie Jo Sperber ... Linda McFly

George DiCenzo ... Sam Baines

Frances Lee McCain ... Stella Baines

James Tolkan ... Mr. Strickland

J.J. Cohen ... Skinhead (as Jeffrey Jay Cohen)

Casey Siemaszko ... 3-D

Billy Zane ... Match
Harry Waters Jr. ... Marvin Berry
Donald Fullilove ... Goldie Wilson
Lisa Freeman ... Babs
Cristen Kauffman ... Betty
Elsa Raven ... Clocktower Lady
Will Hare ... Pa Peabody
Ivy Bethune ... Ma Peabody
Jason Marin ... Sherman Peabody
Katherine Britton ... Daughter Peabody

Jason Hervey ... Milton Baines

Maia Brewton ... Sally Baines

Courtney Gains ... Dixon
Richard L. Duran ... Terrorist

Jeff O'Haco ... Terrorist Van Driver
Johnny Green ... Scooter Kid #1
Jamie Abbott ... Scooter Kid #2

Norman Alden ... Lou
Read Morgan ... Cop

Sachi Parker ... Bystander #1
Robert Krantz ... Bystander #2

Gary Riley ... Guy #1
Karen Petrasek ... Girl #1

George 'Buck' Flower ... Red Thomas - the Bum (as Buck Flower)
Tommy Thomas ... Starlighter
Granville 'Danny' Young ... Starlighter
David Harold Brown ... Starlighter
Lloyd L. Tolbert ... Starlighter
Paul Hanson ... Pinhead
Lee Brownfield ... Pinhead
Robert DeLapp ... Pinhead
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Walter Scott ... Man driving jeep - 1985
Charles L. Campbell ... 1955 Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Deborah Harmon ... TV Newscaster (uncredited)

Janine King ... High School Girl (uncredited)

Huey Lewis ... High School Band Audition Judge (uncredited)

Tom Tangen ... Student (uncredited)
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Directed by
Robert Zemeckis 
 
Writing credits
Robert Zemeckis (written by) &
Bob Gale (written by)

Produced by
Neil Canton .... producer
Bob Gale .... producer
Kathleen Kennedy .... executive producer
Frank Marshall .... executive producer
Steven Spielberg .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Alan Silvestri 
 
Cinematography by
Dean Cundey (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Harry Keramidas 
Arthur Schmidt 
 
Casting by
Jane Feinberg 
Mike Fenton 
Judy Taylor 
 
Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull 
 
Art Direction by
Todd Hallowell 
 
Set Decoration by
Hal Gausman 
 
Costume Design by
Deborah Lynn Scott  (as Deborah L. Scott)
 
Makeup Department
Dorothy Byrne .... hair stylist
Ken Chase .... makeup creator
Elizabeth Rabe .... hair stylist (uncredited)
Barry Rosenberg .... hair stylist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Jack Grossberg .... unit production manager
Dennis E. Jones .... unit production manager
Arthur F. Repola .... post-production supervisor (as Arthur Repola)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mitchell Bock .... first assistant director: second unit
Pamela M. Eilerson .... second assistant director (as Pamela Eilerson)
Frank Marshall .... second unit director
David McGiffert .... first assistant director
Concetta Rinaldo-Williams .... dga trainee (as Concetta Rinaldo)
 
Art Department
Cameron Birnie .... set designer
Ernest Depew .... construction coordinator (as Ernie Depew)
Al Gaynor .... graphic artist
Al Gaynor .... scenic artist
Kirk D. Hansen .... paint foreman
Joseph E. Hubbard .... set designer
Dick Lasley .... production illustrator
Margie Stone McShirley .... set designer (as Marjorie Stone McShirley)
James Passanante .... standby painter (as Jim Passanante)
Joe Pfaltzgraf .... assistant property master
Andrew Probert .... production illustrator
Michael Scheffe .... construction coordinator: DeLorean
Arthur Smedley .... lead person (as Art Smedley)
'Dangerous' Bob Widin .... assistant property master
John Zemansky .... property master
Mario D'Alfonso .... labor foreman (uncredited)
Robert Misetich .... paint foreman (uncredited)
Tim Stadler .... painter (uncredited)
Drew Struzan .... poster artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Charles L. Campbell .... supervising sound editor
Larry Carow .... sound editor
Samuel C. Crutcher .... sound editor (as Sam Crutcher)
Larry Fallick .... assistant sound editor
Janice Hampton .... sound editor
Craig Harris .... processed sound effects
Scott Hecker .... sound editor
William B. Kaplan .... production sound mixer
John A. Larsen .... sound editor
Daniel J. Leahy .... sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Harry B. Miller III .... sound editor
Glenn T. Morgan .... assistant adr editor
Chuck Neely .... sound editor
Alan L. Nineberg .... adr editor (as Alan Nineberg)
Tak Ogawa .... sound designer
Sonny Pettijohn .... apprentice sound editor
Bruce Richardson .... sound editor
John Roesch .... foley artist
Rod Rogers .... assistant adr editor
Robert R. Rutledge .... supervising sound editor (as Robert Rutledge)
Earl Sampson .... boom operator (as Earl F. Sampson)
B. Tennyson Sebastian II .... sound re-recording mixer (as Tenny Sebastian II)
Larry Singer .... supervising adr editor
Fred Stafford .... sound editor
Jerry Stanford .... sound editor
Robert Thirlwell .... sound re-recording mixer
Bill Varney .... sound re-recording mixer
Darcy Vebber .... utility sound
David Kelson .... utility sound (uncredited)
Robb Navrides .... supervising sound editor: restoration (uncredited)
Greg Orloff .... foley mixer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Sam Adams .... special effects
Richard Chronister .... special effects
William A. Klinger .... special effects (as William Klinger)
Kevin Pike .... special effects supervisor
Kimberley Pike .... special effects
Neil Smith .... special effects foreman
Steve Suits .... special effects
David Wischnack .... special effects foreman
Neil Trifunovich .... special effects buyer (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Peter Albrecht .... ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
Donna K. Baker .... rotoscope artist: ILM (uncredited)
Barbara Brennan .... animator: ILM (uncredited)
Donald Clark .... optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Mike Cochrane .... modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Jeff Doran .... optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
John Ellis .... optical supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
Scott Farrar .... camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ellen Ferguson .... ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Finley Jr. .... stage technician: ILM (uncredited)
Warren Franklin .... general manager: ILM (uncredited)
Michael Fulmer .... modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Steve Gawley .... supervising modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Tim Geideman .... optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
Ray Gilberti .... assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ralph Gordon .... optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Ned Gorman .... production buyer: ILM (uncredited)
Joanne Hafner .... ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
James Hagedorn .... optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Hill .... assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Hill .... camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Sandy Houston .... rotoscope artist: ILM (uncredited)
Peg Hunter .... optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Ed Jones .... optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson .... assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ira Keeler .... modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Bill Kimberlin .... effects editor: ILM (uncredited)
Ellen E. Lichtwardt .... rotoscope supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
James Lim .... optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Pamela Marcotte .... visual effects (uncredited)
Kim Marks .... camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ted Moehnke .... pyrotechnician: ILM (uncredited)
Jack Mongovan .... animator: ILM (uncredited)
Michael Moore .... assistant editor: ILM (uncredited)
Charlie Mullen .... animation supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
Phillip Norwood .... visual effects art director: ILM (uncredited)
Terrence Peck .... assistant editor: ILM (uncredited)
Ken Ralston .... supervisor of visual effects: ILM (uncredited)
Peggy Regan .... animator: ILM (uncredited)
Jay Riddle .... animation camera: ILM (uncredited)
Jay Riddle .... animator: ILM (uncredited)
Louis Rivera .... optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
Martin Rosenberg .... assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Thomas Rosseter .... optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Wesley Seeds .... modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Kenneth Smith .... optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Howard Stein .... supervising visual effects editor: ILM (uncredited)
Peter Stolz .... pyrotechnician: ILM (uncredited)
Wes Takahashi .... animator: ILM (uncredited)
Laurie Vermont .... production coordinator: ILM (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Richard E. Butler .... stunts
Charles Croughwell .... stunts (as Charlie Croughwell)
Loren Janes .... stunts
Max Kleven .... stunts
Bernie Pock .... stunts
Spiro Razatos .... stunts
Robert Schmelzer .... stunts
John-Clay Scott .... stunts
Walter Scott .... stunt coordinator
Per Welinder .... stunts
Bob Yerkes .... stunts
Charles Croughwell .... stunt double: Michael J. Fox (uncredited)
Gene Hartline .... stunts (uncredited)
Terry Jackson .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Dic Alexander .... grip
Richard Babin .... dolly grip (as Dick Babin)
Clyde E. Bryan .... first assistant camera
Dan Cooper .... best boy grip
George La Fountaine Jr. .... electrical lighting technician (as George LaFountaine)
'Wild' Will MacLean .... dolly grip
Thomas Marshall .... assistant chief lighting technician (as Thom Marshall)
Steve Mathis .... electrical lighting technician (as Steven R. Mathis)
Ralph Nelson .... still photographer
Michael Orefice .... assistant chief lighting technician (as Michael Paul Orefice)
Michael Salts .... grip
Charles J. Schray .... grip (as Chuck Schray)
Raymond Stella .... camera operator
Raymond Stella .... director of photography: second unit
Steve Tate .... second assistant camera (as Stephen Tate)
Mark Walthour .... chief lighting technician (as Mark D. Walthour)
Anthony Wong .... electrical lighting technician
Ronald Woodward .... key grip (as Ronald T. Woodward)
Ray Gilberti .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Albert Hood .... electrician (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke .... musco light operator (uncredited)
Michael R. Marquette .... assistant camera (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brian Callahan .... costume supervisor: men
Julie Starr Dresner .... key costumer
Haleen K. Holt .... costume illustrator (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter (as Donah J. Bassett)
Barbara Palmer Dixon .... assistant film editor (as Barbara Dixon)
Terry Haggar .... color timer
Roger Jaep .... apprentice film editor
Peter Lonsdale .... assistant film editor (as Peter N. Lonsdale)
Charles Simmons .... apprentice film editor
David Handman .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Ron S. Herbes .... trailer editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Dick Bernstein .... music software
James B. Campbell .... orchestrator (as James Campbell)
Bones Howe .... music supervisor
Kenneth Karman .... music editor
Dennis S. Sands .... music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Deborah Zimmerman .... assistant music editor
Tom Boyd .... musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Chuck Domanico .... musician: bass (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson .... musician: tuba (uncredited)
James Thatcher .... musician: French horn solos (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Bob Cornell .... transportation captain (as Bob R. Cornell)
John Feinblatt .... transportation coordinator
Tom Garris .... transportation captain: picture cars
Eugene Schwartz .... transportation manager (as Gene Schwartz)
Jack Carpenter .... driver: insert car (uncredited)
Gregory Dultz .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Kate Barker .... assistant: Ms. Kennedy
Richard L. Calkins .... animal handler (as Richard Caulkins)
Jeffrey R. Coates .... production associate
Ron Cobb .... consultant: DeLorean time travel
Robert R. Draney .... assistant accountant
Lynn D. Ezelle .... assistant accountant
Ann Furia .... assistant accountant
Anthony Gibson .... production associate
Babette T. Gorman .... assistant: Mr. Canton
Nancy Hansen .... script continuity (as Nancy B. Hansen)
Diana L. Hayes .... production associate
Brad Jeffries .... choreographer
Leanne Moore .... production accountant
Julie Moskowitz .... assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Gail Oliver .... assistant: Mr. Zemeckis
Eileen Omaye .... assistant: Mr. Gale
Maureen Osborne-Beall .... production coordinator
Ramon Pahoyo .... craft service (as Ramon B. Pahoyo)
Paul Pav .... location manager
Bonne Radford .... production controller
Mary T. Radford .... assistant: Mr. Marshall
Marsha Robertson .... unit publicist
Nina Saxon .... title design
Steven Spielberg .... presents
Rob Stevens .... assistant production coordinator
Steven Talmy .... production associate
Judy Thomason .... assistant: Mr. Repola
Robert Weatherwax .... animal handler
Alexander Xavier Ponce-Bonano .... scientific consultant (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Mark Campbell .... special thanks
Ron Hitchcock .... special thanks
Gregg Landaker .... special thanks
Steve Maslow .... special thanks
Tim May .... special thanks
Stephen Semel .... special thanks
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | Iceland:L | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #27831) | West Germany:12 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:MG6 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Spain:T | Canada:G (Quebec) | Japan:PG12 (2010) | Canada:PG (TV rating)
Filming Locations:
Santa Clarita, California, USASee more »
Company:
Universal PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale's Oscar-nominated screenplay was actually written just after they'd made Used Cars (1980).See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: During the skateboard chase, just as Biff is about to ram Marty, an ice-cream salesman can be briefly seen who appears and disappears between the next cuts.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
1985 radio announcer:October is inventory time, so right now, Statler Toyota is making the best deals of the year on all 1985-model Toyotas. You won't find a better car at a better price with better service anywhere in Hill Valley. That's Statler Toyota in downtown Hill Valley.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Spaceballs: The Animated Series: Druidian Idol (#1.12)" (2008)See more »
Soundtrack:
THE POWER OF LOVESee more »

FAQ

In the Darth Vader scene, Marty has a modern hair dryer tucked in his belt, obviously not something they had in 1955. Where did this come from?
Does original 1985 timeline 'Doc' know Marty already?
What is the name of the Van Halen song Marty plays to his father?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
56 out of 67 people found the following review useful.
Gotta get back in time! Get back Marty!, 27 February 2003
Author: george.schmidt (gpschmidt67@gmail.com) from fairview, nj

BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) **** Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson, Marc McClure, Wendy Jo Sperber. This generation's "It's a Wonderful Life"? Think about it. Very popular and very entertaining sci-fi comedy that made Fox a movie star after success with tv's "Family Ties", casting him, after Eric Stoltz was dropped, as Marty McFly who winds up in a nuclear-powered DeLorean time-machine and is sent back in time to 1955 by his quintessentially eccentric friend Dr. Emmet Brown (Lloyd doing a fine Art Carney). There he meets up with his parents to be and realizes his chance encounters have changed his future and he must see history repeat itself or perish. High-concept hilarity and some truly ingenious schematics thanks to screenwriter Bob Gale and director Bob Zemeckis. Wondering what it would be like to never be born and/or what it would be like if things were different...see what I mean. Oscar-nominated song "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis (who has a fun cameo) fuels this dynamo gem of a film. Classic.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Back to the Future (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
3 best movies of the 80s seeyouinkansas
Surely nobody aged over 18 thinks this is better than Vertigo? galford264
how come his mother and father didnt recognize him lucy_122
If Marty and Doc had had Another Adventure? joe_538
Massive doubt!! (spoiler of course) sheerja_k
Possible Origins Of Some Scenes Of The Trilogy rickdrake
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