Top 5 Facts About Back To The Future
As the iconic film approaches its 40th anniversary, here is a list of the top 5 facts about the beloved classic.
Top 5 Facts About Back To The Future
As the iconic film approaches its 40th anniversary, here is a list of the top 5 facts about the beloved classic.
5. The script was rejected over 40 times
Before Back to the Future became a blockbuster, it was one of the most rejected scripts in Hollywood. Writer Bob Gale revealed that more than 40 studios turned it down because executives didn’t see potential in a “family-friendly” time-travel comedy. Disney even rejected it for being “too risqué” — they were uncomfortable with Marty’s mother having a crush on him. Universal Pictures finally agreed to produce it after Gale and Robert Zemeckis had success with Romancing the Stone.
4. Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly
Michael J. Fox wasn’t the first choice to play Marty — actor Eric Stoltz was cast and even filmed several weeks of scenes. However, the filmmakers realized Stoltz’s more serious tone didn’t fit the movie’s comedic energy. Director Robert Zemeckis later said, “Eric is a terrific actor, but it just wasn’t what we were going for.”
3. The time machine wasn’t always a DeLorean
In early drafts, the time machine was a refrigerator, not a car. Zemeckis and Gale eventually decided on a vehicle to make time travel mobile — and the DeLorean’s futuristic stainless-steel design was irresistible. The car’s gull-wing doors also added visual flair, making it an instant pop culture icon.
2. “Johnny B. Goode” almost didn’t make it in
The legendary high school dance sequence where Marty performs Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” is one of the most famous moments in movie history — but it nearly didn’t happen. The song was a late addition, chosen for its perfect blend of rhythm and nostalgia.
1. The film almost had a very different title
One of Universal executive Sid Sheinberg’s earliest notes on the film was to change the title to Spaceman From Pluto, arguing that Back to the Future “didn’t make sense” and wouldn’t sell. Producer Steven Spielberg defused the situation by sending a memo thanking Sheinberg “for his wonderful joke” — which made the exec too embarrassed to push it further.
