Watch Back to the Future in order: Back to the Future (1985), Part II (1989) and Part III (1990). Part II picks up the moment the first film ends and Part III picks up the moment Part II ends, so the trilogy plays as one story. The animated series (1991) is optional.
- Titles
- 4
- Films
- 3
- Series
- 1
- Watch time
- 16 hours
- Box office
- $969 million
- Avg IMDb
- 7.6
Back to the Future movies in release order
Here is every Back to the Future title in the order it came out, 1985 to 1991: 3 films and 1 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back to the Future | 1985 | Film | 1h 56m | 8.5 |
| 2 | Back to the Future Part II | 1989 | Film | 1h 48m | 7.8 |
| 3 | Back to the Future Part III | 1990 | Film | 1h 59m | 7.5 |
| 4 | Back to the Future: The Animated Series optional | 1991 | Series | 9h 56m | 6.4 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Back to the Future, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Back to the Future and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 3 titles and about 6 hours, 63% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Back to the Future (8.5), Back to the Future Part II (7.8), and Back to the Future Part III (7.5).
Every Back to the Future movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1985 · Film · 1h 56m
Back to the Future
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.
Why it matters: Marty lands in 1955; the place to start.
- Starring
- Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Crispin Glover
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Box office
- $392 million on a $19 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 8.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%
No. 02 · 1989 · Film · 1h 48m
Back to the Future Part II
Marty and Doc are at it again as the time-traveling duo head to 2015 to nip some McFly family woes in the bud. But things go awry thanks to bully Biff Tannen and a pesky sports almanac. In a last-ditch attempt to set things straight, Marty finds himself bound for 1955 and face to face with his teenage parents -- again.
Why it matters: Picks up the moment the first film ends; 2015 and an alternate 1985.
- Starring
- Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Box office
- $333 million on a $40 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 63%
No. 03 · 1990 · Film · 1h 59m
Back to the Future Part III
The final installment finds Marty digging the trusty DeLorean out of a mineshaft and looking for Doc in the Wild West of 1885. But when their time machine breaks down, the travelers are stranded in a land of spurs. More problems arise when Doc falls for pretty schoolteacher Clara Clayton, and Marty tangles with Buford Tannen.
Why it matters: Picks up the moment Part II ends; the Old West in 1885.
- Starring
- Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Mary Steenburgen
- Director
- Robert Zemeckis
- Box office
- $245 million on a $40 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 79%
No. 04 · 1991 · Series · 9h 56m · optional
Back to the Future: The Animated Series
An animated series for television based on the Back to the Future trilogy of feature films. Based on the highly successful Back to the Future movie trilogy, this series is set, um, "after" the events of the last film, as the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown in their DeLorean time machine continue. Joining the ride is Clara, (Doc's wife from Back To The Future Part III,) Jules and Verne (their sons) Einstein the dog and Jennifer (Marty's girlfriend). And apparently there's a Tannen in every time as relatives of Biff keep popping up, and creating conflict. Mary Steenburgen and Tom Wilson reprise their roles from the movies. During live portions of the show, Christopher Lloyd reprised his role as Doc Brown and was joined by Bill Nye, who conducted experiments that were used in the show.
Why it matters: Doc's family's adventures after the trilogy; optional.
- Starring
- David Kaufman, Cathy Cavadini, and Mary Steenburgen
- Scores
- IMDb 6.4
- Episodes
- 27 across 2 seasons
Back to the Future box office and budgets
The 3 Back to the Future films with reported numbers have grossed $969 million worldwide on about $99 million in combined budgets, roughly 9.8 times what they cost. The biggest is Back to the Future at $392 million, 40% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Back to the Future Part II ($333 million) and Back to the Future Part III ($245 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Back to the Future, which made 21 times its $19 million budget. The weakest was Back to the Future Part III at 6.1 times its $40 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Back to the Future movies
Across 4 rated titles, Back to the Future averages 7.6 on IMDb. The top of the list is Back to the Future at 8.5, then Back to the Future Part II (7.8) and Back to the Future Part III (7.5). At the bottom: Back to the Future: The Animated Series (6.4) and Back to the Future Part III (7.5).
- Back to the Future8.5 · RT 93%
- Back to the Future Part II7.8 · RT 63%
- Back to the Future Part III7.5 · RT 79%
- Back to the Future: The Animated Series6.4
Who appears in the most Back to the Future movies
Christopher Lloyd leads with 4 appearances as Emmett Brown and Doctor Emmett Brown, ahead of Michael J. Fox (3) and Lea Thompson (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Lloyd | Emmett Brown / Doctor Emmett Brown | 4 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991) |
| Michael J. Fox | Marty McFly / Marty McFly Junior | 3 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
| Lea Thompson | Lorraine Baines / Lorraine | 3 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
| Thomas F. Wilson | Biff Tannen / Griff | 3 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
| James Tolkan | Mr. Strickland / Strickland | 3 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
| J.J. Cohen | Skinhead | 2 | Back to the Future (1985) to Back to the Future Part II (1989) |
| Elisabeth Shue | Jennifer | 2 | Back to the Future Part II (1989) to Back to the Future Part III (1990) |
| Mary Steenburgen | Clara Clayton | 2 | Back to the Future Part III (1990) to Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991) |
Back to the Future directors and creators
1 filmmaker has directed or created Back to the Future; Robert Zemeckis has the most, with 3.
- Robert ZemeckisBack to the Future (1985), Back to the Future Part II (1989), and Back to the Future Part III (1990)
How long it takes to watch every Back to the Future movie
All 4 titles add up to 16 hours: 6 hours of film and 10 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 8 two-hour evenings, or 2 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 6 hours. The longest film is Back to the Future Part III at 1h 59m.
The 3 best rated films: Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II, and Back to the Future Part III.
Everything takes about 3 weeks; the essentials about 6 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Back to the Future movies can you skip?
1 title can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 10 hours.
- Back to the Future: The Animated Series1991 · Series · 9h 56m · optionalDoc's family's adventures after the trilogy; optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Back to the Future movies in?
Watch Back to the Future in order: Back to the Future (1985), Part II (1989) and Part III (1990). Part II picks up the moment the first film ends and Part III picks up the moment Part II ends, so the trilogy plays as one story. The animated series (1991) is optional.
How many Back to the Future movies and shows are there?
There are 4 titles in the Back to the Future franchise: 3 films and 1 series, released from 1985 to 1991.
How long does it take to watch all the Back to the Future movies?
About 16 hours for all 4 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (3 titles) take about 6 hours.
What is the first Back to the Future title in chronological order?
Back to the Future, set in 1985 & 1955. In release order the first is Back to the Future (1985).
Which Back to the Future titles can I skip?
Back to the Future: The Animated Series. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Back to the Future movie?
By IMDb score, Back to the Future (1985) at 8.5, followed by Back to the Future Part II at 7.8.
What is the highest-grossing Back to the Future movie?
Back to the Future (1985), with $392 million worldwide. Back to the Future films have made $969 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Back to the Future movies?
Christopher Lloyd, in 4 of them as Emmett Brown.
What is the longest Back to the Future movie?
Back to the Future Part III, at 1h 59m.
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