The clock-filled opening credits and Doc’s laboratory are nominated
Einstein’s one-minute time-travel experiment is nominated — Bill Simmons
Marty meeting George and Lorraine in the diner and bedroom is nominated — Bill Simmons
Marty convincing the 1955 Doc and the Ronald Reagan exchange are nominated — Bill Simmons
Marty punching Biff, escaping on the improvised skateboard, and the manure crash are nominated — Bill Simmons
The Johnny B. Goode performance is nominated and reported as a preview audience favorite that Zemeckis had considered cutting — Bill Simmons
The clock-tower return to 1985 is selected for its escalating action beats — Sean Fennessey
The flying DeLorean sequel tease and transformed McFly family are praised as part of the closing stretch — Sean Fennessey
The Biff skateboard chase is separately selected and linked to a childhood skateboard purchase — Chris Ryan

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49:23

The most 1985 thing

Pepsi Free

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:49:23Read transcript

Huey Lewis, Twin Pines Mall, the DeLorean, Pepsi Free, and an X-rated downtown theater are nominated — Bill Simmons
Pepsi Free and Tab or the prominence of Huey Lewis are the leading choices. — Chris Ryan
Pepsi Free is declared the winner because of its narrow mid-1980s window — Bill Simmons
The DeLorean remains a nominee but is discounted for originating earlier in the decade — Bill Simmons

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51:26

What’s Aged the Best?

Huey Lewis, character payoffs, Claudia Wells, backlots, Christopher Lloyd, and Alan Silvestri

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 00:51:26Read transcript

The Goldie Wilson setup and later mayor payoff are praised — Bill Simmons
The Power of Love and Back in Time are praised, including Huey Lewis judging Marty’s performance of his own song — Bill Simmons
Marty’s horror at Lorraine flirting with him is praised — Bill Simmons
The 1950s ice-cream shop and George punching Biff are praised — Bill Simmons
Claudia Wells is praised as a supportive Jennifer Parker — Chris Ryan
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

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56:52

What’s Aged the Worst?

Franchise replacement, makeup, Libyan terrorists, sexual misconduct, PG content, guitar mime, and rock-history premise

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:56:52Read transcript

Claudia Wells leaving the sequels because her mother had cancer is treated as a sad lost opportunity — Bill Simmons
Lorraine’s heavier-body makeup is criticized as unconvincing — Bill Simmons
The unexplained Libyan-terrorist plot is criticized, with Zemeckis reportedly apologizing for its insensitivity — Bill Simmons
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 — Bill Simmons
Marty being framed as inventing rock and roll is criticized — Bill Simmons
The high-school dance band is added belatedly to Aged Best — Bill Simmons

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1:03:29

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Malachi actor Courtney Gains

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:03:29Read transcript

the bald Top Gun actor, George Descendant, the Malachi actor, Billy Zane, and Mark McClure are candidates — Bill Simmons
The actor recognized as Malachi, receives the vote — Bill Simmons

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1:04:37

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Crispin Glover

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:04:37Read transcript

Crispin Glover and Christopher Lloyd are the two candidates — Bill Simmons
Crispin Glover is selected while his highly stylized performance is debated as either distracting or perfectly calibrated to the film’s live-action-cartoon tone

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1:07:25

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

No clear winner: George’s father; Principal Strickland

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:25Read transcript

Biff is ruled ineligible for appearing too much — Bill Simmons
George’s father and Principal Strickland are tentative candidates, but no winner is found — Sean Fennessey

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1:13:19

Apex Mountain

Fox, Lewis, Lloyd, Wells, Glover, Wilson, Pepsi Free, Zemeckis, and time travel

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:19Read transcript

Michael J. Fox is judged at his apex through the combination of Family Ties and the film — Bill Simmons
Huey Lewis, Christopher Lloyd, Claudia Wells, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson are assigned apexes — Bill Simmons
Libyan terrorists are rejected in favor of Gaddafi as their apex
Pepsi Free is assigned an apex while the larger Pepsi brand is debated — Chris Ryan
Robert Zemeckis is assigned an apex because Romancing the Stone and this film enabled later ambitious projects — Sean Fennessey
Time travel is assigned an apex over Lost for popularizing difficult concepts — Chris Ryan

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1:26:08

Who Won the Movie?

Michael J. Fox

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:08Read transcript

Michael J. Fox is selected after Robert Zemeckis is reconsidered — Sean Fennessey
Fox is also selected because replacing Stoltz supplied the needed comedy and physicality — Bill Simmons
Without Fox, the film is argued more likely to have become a smaller cult science-fiction movie than a culture-changing hit — Bill Simmons

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Mentions across The Rewatchables

Double Feature

Forrest Gump

The Rewatchables · aired February 13, 2024

Back to the Future, Cast Away, and The Waterboy

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:00Read transcript

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