Why Back to the Future Continues to Be Such a Key Figure in Sci-Fi and Pop Culture
The ‘80s were without a doubt one of the greatest decades in cinematic history. So many classics that continue to enchant generations of film viewers. Theaters were blessed with masterpieces like Full Metal Jacket, Akira, Star Wars, and Scarface, just to name a few. All of these films share a level of artistry that has stood the test of time, but there is one that I feel particularly stands out: the iconic 1985 sci-fi spectacular, Back to the Future, directed by Robert Zemeckis. This film, and the entire trilogy, embody the essence of sci-fi, and include adventure, comedy, storytelling, and an infectious nostalgia for the 1950s and 80s without feeling dated or awkward. This paired with its amazing script, acting, cinematography, and visual effects (especially for the time period), you have easily one of the best sci-fi film franchises of all time.
For those who haven’t seen the iconic movie, it follows the spectacular time-traveling journey of suburban teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), and mad scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, who invents an actual time-machine in the form of a modified DeLorean car. But after an experiment goes awry, Marty is transported back to the year 1955, where he encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson) and must make sure that they fall in love or he'll cease to exist. All this while also trying to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown. Such a story may seem pretty normal given the kinds of sci-fi films that are released now, but this film was a landmark moment of the genre, revolutionizing the way that people thought about sci-fi and shaping various films since its release.
One of the most pivotal impacts that the film had on the industry was the way it made people realize that sci-fi movies could be “serious” or “real cinema.” Not serious in terms of mood (because this film is absolutely hilarious throughout), but in terms of quality and legitimate storytelling. Back to the Future and Star Wars were at the forefront of revolutionary sci-fi, showing that not only could these kinds of stories have engaging narrative themes, but also contain adept character development and intricate plots. All while evoking a wide range of emotive responses from its viewers. Before these kinds of films, sci-fi films were often disregarded as “kids movies” or “silly.” The genre has certainly come a long way since then, and a lot of it was thanks to the success of the Back to the Future franchise.
Independent of how influential the movie has been, the actual film itself still stands toe-to-toe with most modern-day films. One of my favorite aspects of the film, and one that I feel is often overlooked or failed by filmmakers, is the ability to make so many aspects of the film memorable/iconic. Even people who have never seen Back to the Future can recognize the name Marty McFly, the clunky time-traveling DeLorean, or Marty’s iconic, futuristic, light-up, self-lacing Nikes. This is something that is so underrated in modern-day cinema, and often something that new films fail to capture. As the digital age of cinema means that we are oversaturated with new films constantly, good, even great films are forgotten about within a couple of months if not weeks. This makes the fact that Back to the Future has remained such a huge part of pop culture and film over thirty years since its original release even more impressive.
Everything about Back to the Future screams quality, from the writing, acting, and overall cinematography, to the nostalgic/iconic characters, lines, memorabilia, and moments that continue to stick with movie fans young and old. Also taking into account what the film has done for the sci-fi genre as a whole, there is no doubt that it will go down in history as one of the best sci-fi films/franchises of all time. With that being said, whether you want to experience Marty and Doc's whimsical time adventure for the first time or wind back the years and watch it again, you should catch a viewing of Back to the Future at the ASLC movie theater when it plays on September 8th!
Written by: Bryan Herrera | Instagram
Art by: Devin Clark
