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AdventureComedySci-Fi Editor's Pick

Back to the Future Review (1985) — 83% Celluloid Score

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 1985 ·

Short answer

Is Back to the Future worth watching?

Yes. Back to the Future (1985) earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

83%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

87% Editorial Rating
89% Audience snapshot · excluded
81 Metascore
★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4
8.5 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 56m
Age rating
PG (US) · PG (UK) · PG (Australia) · PG (Canada) · 12 (South Korea)
Cast
Michael J. Fox , Christopher Lloyd , Crispin Glover , Lea Thompson , Claudia Wells , Thomas F. Wilson , Marc McClure , Wendie Jo Sperber , George DiCenzo , Frances Lee McCain
Language
English

Also known as बॅक टू द फ्यूचर Volver al Futuro Regreso al futuro Retour vers le futur Zurück in die Zukunft De Volta para o Futuro バック・トゥ・ザ・フューチャー 빽 투 더 퓨쳐

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — our catalogue lists Prime Video in the United Kingdom. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Back to the Future by country

Country Streaming on
India Disney+ Hotstar
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
Nigeria Prime Video
South Africa Prime Video
Turkey Prime Video
United Kingdom Prime Video

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (87/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (89%).
  • Metascore signals universal acclaim (81/100).
  • Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4/5).
  • IMDb users score it 8.5/10.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, comedy, sci-fi pick

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Back to the Future worth watching?

    Yes — Back to the Future earns an 83% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded adventure, comedy, sci-fi pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    IMDb Top 250 #29 (8.5/10) — Back to the Future remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Back to the Future about?

    Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Back to the Future

    Back to the Future (1985) Review: Clockwork Comedy

    Back to the Future is Robert Zemeckis's 1985 time-travel comedy, a near-flawless feat of storytelling engineering powered by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

    Yes. It is one of the best-built crowd-pleasers Hollywood has made, ideal for families and first-timers alike, with only a few dated jokes to forgive.

    Kaiser Khan Founder & Editor

    Back to the Future stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Back to the Future production still 1
    Back to the Future production still 2
    Back to the Future production still 3
    Back to the Future production still 4
    Back to the Future production still 5
    Back to the Future production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

    Reader takes

    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Back to the Future: frequently asked questions

    Is Back to the Future worth watching?

    Yes. Back to the Future (1985) has a Celluloid Score of 83%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Back to the Future?

    In the United States you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Disney+ Hotstar in India; Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; Prime Video in Nigeria; Prime Video in South Africa. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Back to the Future?

    Back to the Future runs 1 hour 56 minutes (116 minutes).

    What is Back to the Future rated?

    Back to the Future is rated PG in the United States, PG in the UK, PG in Australia, PG in Canada and 12 in South Korea. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Back to the Future?

    Back to the Future is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson, Claudia Wells.

    What is the Metascore for Back to the Future?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Back to the Future is 81 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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