The final return to 1985 and Biff skateboard chase lead many strong sequences
In the discussion (9)
- The clock-filled opening credits and Doc’s laboratory are nominated
- Einstein’s one-minute time-travel experiment is nominated
- Marty meeting George and Lorraine in the diner and bedroom is nominated
- Marty convincing the 1955 Doc and the Ronald Reagan exchange are nominated
- Marty punching Biff, escaping on the improvised skateboard, and the manure crash are nominated
- The Johnny B. Goode performance is nominated and reported as a preview audience favorite that Zemeckis had considered cutting
- The clock-tower return to 1985 is selected for its escalating action beats
- The flying DeLorean sequel tease and transformed McFly family are praised as part of the closing stretch
- The Biff skateboard chase is separately selected and linked to a childhood skateboard purchase
Huey Lewis, character payoffs, Claudia Wells, backlots, Christopher Lloyd, and Alan Silvestri
In the discussion (9)
- The Goldie Wilson setup and later mayor payoff are praised
- The Power of Love and Back in Time are praised, including Huey Lewis judging Marty’s performance of his own song
- Marty’s horror at Lorraine flirting with him is praised
- The 1950s ice-cream shop and George punching Biff are praised
- Claudia Wells is praised as a supportive Jennifer Parker
- Studio backlots are praised for creating a reusable, convincing town square
- Christopher Lloyd is jokingly praised for appearing not to age
- Alan Silvestri’s score is praised as iconic and durable
- Huey Lewis is selected as the leading Aged Best choice
Franchise replacement, makeup, Libyan terrorists, sexual misconduct, PG content, guitar mime, and rock-history premise
In the discussion (8)
- Claudia Wells leaving the sequels because her mother had cancer is treated as a sad lost opportunity
- Lorraine’s heavier-body makeup is criticized as unconvincing
- The unexplained Libyan-terrorist plot is criticized, with Zemeckis reportedly apologizing for its insensitivity
- George spying on Lorraine and Biff’s attempted assault are criticized
- The violence and repeated profanity are considered surprising for a PG film
- Michael J. Fox’s guitar mime is criticized as unrealistic
- Marty being framed as inventing rock and roll is criticized
- The high-school dance band is added belatedly to Aged Best
Malachi actor Courtney Gains
In the discussion (2)
- the bald Top Gun actor, George Descendant, the Malachi actor, Billy Zane, and Mark McClure are candidates
- The actor recognized as Malachi, receives the vote
No clear winner; George’s father and Principal Strickland are considered
In the discussion (2)
- Biff is ruled ineligible for appearing too much
- George’s father and Principal Strickland are tentative candidates, but no winner is found
Fox, Lewis, Lloyd, Wells, Glover, Wilson, Pepsi Free, Zemeckis, and time travel
In the discussion (6)
- Michael J. Fox is judged at his apex through the combination of Family Ties and the film
- Huey Lewis, Christopher Lloyd, Claudia Wells, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson are assigned apexes
- Libyan terrorists are rejected in favor of Gaddafi as their apex
- Pepsi Free is assigned an apex while the larger Pepsi brand is debated
- Robert Zemeckis is assigned an apex because Romancing the Stone and this film enabled later ambitious projects
- Time travel is assigned an apex over Lost for popularizing difficult concepts
Most Rewatchable Scene
