RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Back to the Future
Back to the Future

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Back to the Future (1985)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
96 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:45

Fresh:43

Rotten:2

Average Rating:8.3/10

Consensus: Romantic, funny, and action-packed, Back to the Future is rousing entertainment for all ages.

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: A massive success upon its 1985 release, BACK TO THE FUTURE has since become a bona fide classic--Robert Zemeckis’s time-travel adventure has spawned sequels, theme park rides, and even a mention... A massive success upon its 1985 release, BACK TO THE FUTURE has since become a bona fide classic--Robert Zemeckis’s time-travel adventure has spawned sequels, theme park rides, and even a mention in Ronald Reagan’s 1986 State of the Union address. Michael J. Fox stars as Marty McFly, a restless '80s teen who takes a ride in Doc Brown’s (Christopher Lloyd) "flux capacitor"-rigged DeLorean and ends up in 1955. Once on the ground, Marty meets his teenaged mother (Lea Thompson) and accidentally wins her affections, thereby threatening the relationship she’s supposed to form with his father (the delightfully geeky Crispin Glover). Now it’s a do-or-never-be-born situation: Marty must get his parents to fall in love before Doc Brown can send him back to the proper decade. BACK TO THE FUTURE remains one of the rare family films that enjoyed both critical and box office success, and garnered a permanent spot in the pop-culture lexicon thanks to highly-quotable dialogue. The picture garnered both Golden Globe and Oscar nods (though it lost Best Original Screenplay to WITNESS), and continues to rank as one of the top-100 highest grossing films of all time. [More]

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, Thomas F. Wilson

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Director: Robert Zemeckis

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jun 21, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region [unknown]
  • Snap Case
  • Full Frame - 1.33
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English, French
  • Subtitles - English, (SDH), Spanish

DVD-ROM Features:

  • Total Access

Disc 1:

Additional Release Material:

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Outtakes
  • Trailers: Theatrical Teaser Trailer

Audio Commentary:

  • 1. Producers, Bob Gale
  • 2. Neil Canton

Featurette:

  • 1. The Making of Back to the Future
  • 2. Making the Trilogy: Chapter One
  • 3. Enhanced Conversation with Michael J. Fox
  • 4. Q & A Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
  • 5. Did You Know That? Universal Animated Anecdotes
  • 6. Original Makeup Tests
  • 7. Excerpts from the Original Screenplay
  • 8. Special Announcements

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • Photo Galleries
  • Production Notes

Biographies:

  • 1. Cast
  • 2. Filmmakers

DVD-ROM Features:

Disc 2:

Additional Release Material:

Featurette:

  • 1. Back to the Future: The Ride
  • 2. Looking Back at the Future
  • 3. Back to the Future Night
  • 4. Michael J. Fox (Q&A)
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Back to the Future

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Thompson's funny, carnal performance forces us all to face an ugly truth: once, our moms might have been prowling teens too.

Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | comment Comment
03/01/09
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm

Probably the most carefully-scripted blockbuster in Hollywood history.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
02/25/09
Eric Henderson
Eric Henderson
Slant Magazine

Performances by the earnest Fox, the lunatic Lloyd, the deceptively passionate Lea Thompson, and, particularly, the bumbling-to-confident Glover, who runs away with the picture, merrily keep the ship sailing.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
05/05/08
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

To put it bluntly: if you don't like Back To The Future, it's difficult to believe that you like films at all.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
05/05/08
Adam Smith
Adam Smith
Empire Magazine

Amongst the finest family films of the 1980s.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/05/08
Channel 4 Film

Robert Zemeckis's direction, like the technical contributions, is first-rate, and after an ambling start takes off into frenetic, non-stop fun.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/26/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Director Robert Zemeckis confronts the oedipal heart of the time-travel genre with this zestfully tasteless 1985 tale about a teenager (Michael J. Fox) who is projected back to 1955 and then must arrange the romance of his parents.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
02/26/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An unqualified success, boasting an incredibly sharp screenplay and tons of appeal.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
09/23/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A classic adventure that holds up perfectly today.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
09/16/06
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

The movie has all the benign good nature of a Frank Capra.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

Equal parts hilarity, nostalgia, science fiction, screwball comedy, and white-knuckle suspense in a complex storyline wound tighter than a yo-yo in a centrifuge.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
10/10/05
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
10/01/05
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

No review available.

comment Comment
07/17/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/24/05
Greg Maki
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Technically, no film is impossible to like, but this techno-romantic comedy comes about as close as you can get.

comment Comment
11/02/04
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

An unusual time travel flick about a gifted match-maker.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/22/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

comment Comment
04/25/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

No review available.

comment Comment
04/13/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
11/28/03
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Part II was better, but that's just me. The first one is a fun romp too.

comment Comment
08/29/03
Shawn Bowers
Shawn Bowers
Kansas City Star
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for Back to the Future

March 31, 2009: The Legacy of The Matrix
1999 was one of the most important years for modern cinema. Ten years on, we're celebrating a remarkable twelve months of movies with new features around some of the year's best... More...

September 04, 2007: Back to the Future Ride Now a Thing of the Past
If you've been waiting for just the right time to hop in Doc Brown's eight-passenger De Lorean and help him bring Biff Tannen to justice, it's no longer as simple as heading to... More...

December 19, 2006: McG Spills a Little Oil on "Hot Wheels"
While out drumming up some publicity for his new drama "We Are Marshall," director McG (I think his real name is Joe McGinty McNichol or something) was (of course)... More...

May 02, 2006: Gondry and Jack Black Promise to "Rewind"
Director Michel Gondry and professional goofball Jack Black will soon be collaborating on a rather bizarre-sounding high-concept comedy called "Be Kind Rewind," the... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
15% 15% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
95% 95% Star Trek
67% 67% Bruno
47% 47% My Sister's Keeper
66% 66% Is Anybody There?
82% 82% Thirst

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Avatar

Avatar

Watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video!

Friday Harvest

Friday Harvest

This week's best pics, posters, and videos!

RT's Gift Guide

RT's Gift Guide

Give the best movies, gear, and more!

What to Watch?

What to Watch?

Read our Holiday Movie Preview!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
34
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
110
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
  • 6 Reasons 'Twilight' Is Doomed Source: The Wrap
60
  • Forbes Names Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors Source: Forbes
20
  • Chris Weitz Says He's (Almost) Done with Directing Source: Film School Rejects
26
  • Spider-Man 4 Casting Rumors Multiply Like Rabbits Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
51
  • McTeigue Says Superman Is "In a Weird Place" Source: MTV
204
  • Rachel McAdams Debunks Spider-Man 4 Rumor Source: Entertainment Weekly
117
  • Avatar: Gambling on Film's Future Source: Los Angeles Times
128
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: New Moon Wanes
105
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Twilight's New Moon Dazzle?
96
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: 2012 Destroys the Competition
85
  • Total Recall: Star-Crossed Lovers
58
  • Five Favorite Films with Werner Herzog
49
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Star Trek, Bruno, and Cheaper Sopranos
32
  • Friday Harvest: New Moon, Avatar, and more!
23
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
7
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
7
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
19
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
6
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
16
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
41
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Back to the Future at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Back to the Future at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Star Trek DVD Exclusive
Star Trek DVD Exclusive External Link

TECHLAND gives us a first look at the extras, including Leonard Nimoy's last day on set!

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

AV Club looks at a beloved cult classic, Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness.

New Moon Portraits
New Moon Portraits External Link

TIME offers us a closer look at the characters from the latest Twilight film.

Unsexiest Men Alive
Unsexiest Men Alive External Link

Moviefone lists their choices for the least attractive men in Hollywood.

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.