Calum Roche English_AS

Update: Oct 25th, 2023 23:33 EDT

Your Back to the Future basics

In ‘Back to the Future,’ time travel is made possible using the DeLorean DMC-12, a sleek stainless steel car transformed into a time machine. Arguably the most key date in the film - there are others - is October 26, 1985, the day when Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) successfully tests the DeLorean’s time-travel capabilities. This date serves as the launch point for the adventures of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc, taking them back to 1955 and forward to 2015 in the sequels.

Pop quiz: can you remember how fast the car was going when it shot into another time? (answer below)

Marty’s journey

Marty’s journey through time begins on October 26, 1985, when he accidentally travels back to 1955 during a mishap with the DeLorean. His adventures in the past, including meeting his teenage parents, inadvertently shape his future. Marty must ensure that his parents meet and fall in love, or risk altering the course of his own existence. His race against time makes for a thrilling and humorous story that has become a hallmark of the movie.

The enchantment of 1955

One of the highlights of ‘Back to the Future’ is the film’s depiction of 1950s Americana. Leaving October 26, 1985, Marty finds himself in Hill Valley’s charming past, beginning on November 5, the date which had been inputted into the time machine by Doc due to its own importance. It was a time of diners, sock hops, and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s an era that captivates audiences with its nostalgia, jukebox tunes, and, of course, the enchanting relationship between a young Lorraine and George McFly. “Miiiiister Sandman...”

The clock tower scene

Perhaps the most iconic moment associated with the original ‘Back to the Future’ movie is the thrilling climax that takes place during Hill Valley’s “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance, which is on November 12, a week after Marty arrived. Marty must ensure that his parents kiss at the exact moment lightning strikes the clock tower, 11:04 pm, providing the 1.21 gigawatts needed to power the DeLorean and return to 1985. This nail-biting scene has become synonymous with the film and showcases the magic of movie-making.