Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy 40th Anniversary - 4K Blu-ray Review

Movie
There are very few films that hold Icon status as much as the Back to the Future trilogy holds in the hearts of audiences. I’m sure we could compare it to Star Wars, but that is a phenomenon entirely unique to that set of films. Still, you can’t deny Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale’s monumental achievement in the creation of these films. When they pitched the idea of a time-traveling teenager who goes back in time to change the future, it was poo poo’d by producers everywhere, and it took years of pushing for them to get the movie even greenlit. It didn’t help that the duo had a recent string of misadventures and box office flops on their record, either. However, when Back to the Future took off, it TOOK OFF like nobody’s business. Now, after the stellar 35th anniversary release 5 years ago, Universal has re-released the set WITHOUT those horrible cardboard sleeve cases in lieu of individual Viva Elite cases, AND a new bonus disc of additional special features.

Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a bit of a dark comedy, even though Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd do a fantastic job at making the movie light-hearted and airy. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is a bit of a dweeb and a loser. He’s failing out of high school, lives with his pushover of a father, George (Crispin Glover), an overweight nag of a mom, Lorraine (Lea Thompson), and his sister and brother are a nightmare to deal with. He’s bullied at school by Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson), and his principal even tells him that no McFly has ever made anything of himself, and Marty is no exception. The only real friend that Marty has is in the form of Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), the neighborhood mad scientist.

After Doc Brown asks Marty for help in his latest hair-brained invention, Marty jumps at the chance. Skateboarding his way to Doc Brown’s in the middle of the night, he’s confronted with a time-traveling DeLorean and some terrorists who are hot on the heels of Doc Brown for stealing the plutonium needed to power the machine. In a hail of bullets, in which Doc Brown gets shot, Marty is sling shotted back in time to 1955, 30 years ago, when his parents were his age. Marty is a duck out of water in 1955, but the people are all people he knows, just 30 years younger. Taking advantage of the situation, he has to dodge his soon-to-be mother’s amorous attentions as well as use his knowledge of the future to shape the past to create a better life for him and his loved ones 30 years from now.

If you read it on paper, the movie doesn’t sound extremely funny. In fact, it sounds depressingly and horribly bleak. Ironically, that’s how it plays out on screen, but with a fantastic veneer of comedy that masks the darker element and allows the pain of the plotline to be laughed at. Very similarly to how comedians use their painful past to create hysterically funny jokes. Marty is an abused boy in a hopeless situation, but his optimism and relationship with the quirky Doc Brown make for some hilarious situations.

Back to the Future is one of those fantastic movies that strikes like lightning, with little warning and leaving a huge shockwave in its wake. The comedy just works, the relationships are fantastic, and it has a way of resonating with people all over the world. Every teen can relate in SOME way to SOME of the trials that Marty goes through, and who doesn’t love Christopher Lloyd hamming it up to level 11? Michael J. Fox was a good actor, but he made a household name out of himself with this film, in much the same way Mark Hamill did with Luke Skywalker. Zemeckis and Gale have pure gold on their hands, and they fought for years to get it to the public, and really reaped their rewards.

Back to the Future Part II
With the first film’s success cementing a future for the franchise, Back to the Future Part II adds a layer of complexity to the series. If you remember the last few moments of the first movie, Doc Brown rushes over to the McFly household to warn Marty that he must travel to the future to save his and love interest Jennifer’s (now played by Elizabeth Shue) children from certain doom. Now he not only has to go FORWARD in time. To October 21st, 2015, to be exact, but also jump back to 1955 once more to fix things in the past.

The series really dealt with time paradoxes when it was introduced, but now it’s the main focus of the film. McFly has to go to a chrome and spandex-infested 2015 future, and give us humans the bright idea of hover boards (I’m still waiting on my stinking hover board) and a futuristic Biff Jr. (still played by Thomas F. Wilson) as well as good old Biff himself. Biff Sr. gets caught up in the whole time travel loop when he sees Marty in the future and goes back to 1955 to change things for HIMSELF. Unfortunately, this is going to mess up a ton of things for Marty as well, so he has to follow Biff back in time to 1955 once more and set things right.

As mentioned, time travel paradoxes weren’t really a major focus on the first film, but Back to the Future Part II digs into the nuts and bolts of having 2 Marty’s and 2 Biff’s running around in the same timeline, messing with things. So now things get really sticky when the different characters start realizing that there’s more than one of themselves, and knowing opens up an entirely different set of paradoxes and chains of events. Much like the first film, we end with a cliffhanger where Marty is trapped in the past. However, this time he finds a note from Doc Brown that states that HE is trapped back in the 1800s, leading up to the inevitable 3rd film (which was actually filmed at the same time as Back to the Future Part II).

Back to the Future Part II is arguably the best of the series, despite historical evidence that says sequels are usually worse than their predecessors. It’s a bit goofier and really amps up the complexity of the series. The first movie was a fun little jaunt to the past, but Zemeckis and Gale amped it up another notch by adding in the dual time travelers crossing multiple time lines and interacting with their past selves. Michael J. Fox obviously had a blast with the role, and I don’t think that Christopher Lloyd can UNDER act in any way, shape, or form. The success of the first one gave these guys some confidence, as both Back to the Future 2 and 3 were filmed simultaneously, and the end cliffhanger was thought of way before production. It has some flaws, but VERY few of them in my opinion.

Back to the Future Part III
Back to the Future Part III is, interestingly enough, the weakest of the trilogy. Especially considering the two were written and filmed back-to-back. I guess you could say that the story had worn a bit thin, even with the wild success of the second film. Doc Brown had been shot back through time to the 1800s, and Marty has to come back to the wild and woolly west to rescue him. After piecing together the clues left by Doc, Marty repairs the DeLorean and travels back to 1885 to help the Doc out.

It seems that Doc has been living a peaceful life in the old west for a while, thanks to a time travel accident, but is now going to be gunned down by the merciless outlaw, Buford “Mad Dog” Tannon…AKA Biff (Thomas F. Wilson). He’s still a bully back in the old west, but this time the bullies have guns and even more of a sense of entitlement than in the future. Doc has found a bit of a lady friend in Clara (Mary SteenBurgen) and is doing his best to stay alive.

Marty is back as a “main” character, but this is really Doc Brown’s story. Marty’s along for the ride as his assistant, but the hero of the story is Doc this time. He’s the one who has to face down Mad Dog, and he’s the one who has to win his love interest in the face of danger. Back to the Future 3 is a blast, but one that is slightly flawed. Even though it was filmed at about the same time as Back to the Future Part II, the level of storytelling is a bit flawed. The jokes are a bit hit or miss, and so is the entertainment. The story itself takes itself a tad too seriously, and the hokey old west vibe sometimes comes through inadvertently. Still, it’s a GOOD movie, just not up to the high expectation levels we had from the previous two blockbusters, and it makes a wonderful bookending to the series. There have been rumors for years that Universal wanted to do a Back to the Future reboot, or a fourth movie with the cast if they could, but Zemeckis and Gale have come forth saying that, since they own the rights to the film, not Universal, they are going to keep that from coming to light. As much as I really don’t mind reboots. Sometimes it’s better to leave the classics alone.




Rated PG: Parental Guidance recommended




4K Video: Video:

Back to the Future:
Now, for the reason you’re reading this review. To find out what the upgrade is from our old Blu-ray editions of the films. Needless to say, you’re going to be VERY pleased with the transfers. Instead of just using the aging master that the Blu-rays have been based on, Universal went out of their way to remaster these in 4K and clean them up dramatically. The old 2011 transfers were GOOD, but suffered from DNR and some artifacts present from the mater itself. This nice new transfer blows those old discs out of the water (as do the new remastered Blu-rays found in the set). Gone is the softness and smoothness that the old transfer brought to the table, and instead, we get a gloriously grainy-looking image that just exudes incredible amounts of detail. Just look at the first time travel scene at the mall. You can make out so much more detail on Einstein and the car itself. The same goes for the old diner when Marty travels back in time, and the background shots are exquisite. Colors really pop with the use of the HDR, as do the black levels. Colors are wildly vibrant and shiny, with the red guitar at the prom or the dull red of Marty’s jacket, really popping off the screen. The use of HDR and the natural dimming of UHD discs allows for much better nighttime sequences, with less black crush and a LOOOOOT of shadow detail. The disc is ALMOST perfect, and let me reiterate, this tears the old disc up and throws it away.

Back to the Future Part II:
The sequel, even though it was filmed 4 years after the first, looks stylistically nearly identical to the previous film. The 4K UHD imagery is nice and grainy, with a lot of pop and clarity to it. The optical effects with flying cars and whatnot tend to break up the grain a bit (a side effect of the process used to get them to blend smoothly with the rest of the image), but overall clarity is stunning. The future is overly glossy, with colors oozing from every pore, but even back in the alternate 1985, there’s some definite pop. Especially when looking at Biff’s casino monstrosity, or the flashing blue streaks of the time machine as it goes back in time AGAIN.

The HDR is once again excellent, but the Dolby Vision included really makes the disc sparkle. Blacks are deeper, richer, and the colors just seem more fine-tuned. I’ve always known that DV is slightly better than the HDR alternative, but this is the first time where I’ve really seen the difference THIS large. The natural film grain doesn’t seem to mar the blacks or colors at all, and along with the stunning close-up detail, makes this one scrumptious-looking film.

Back to the Future Part III:
Even though they were shot back-to-back, Back to the Future Part III looks noticeably better than Back to the Future Part II, most likely due to the different visual aesthetic of the film. Instead of cloning the 1st and 2nd films’ location, we get shot backward in time to the Old West, which is rich with strong brown tones and has a more sun-drenched look to it. Except for a few dark scenes (such as when Marty first wakes up in the past), Part III is visual perfection. The colors are bright and shiny, but the fine details are stunning. The grain is still there, but the sun-drenched nature of the film makes it seem less noticeable and really accentuates the crisp details that the movie has to offer. DV once again shows really impressive improvement over the base HDR, adding much more depth to the black levels, and allowing the dusty brown environment to appear more saturated and less “hot” than the HDR seems to add.




Audio:

Back to the Future:
All three films have been given Atmos upgrades, and while they’re not night and day different from the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mixes from the Blu-rays, they ARE very nicely fine-tuned. The tracks are given much more space and nimbleness as sounds jump across the sound stage. Even the overheads get some use without sounding awkward or forced, like an old Mono to 5.1 upgrade. Listen to the amp as it blows in the opening scenes of the film. You can hear little things falling around the listener as debris falls. Also, the blast and roar from the Delorean as it blasts off can be heard from literally EVERY speaker for that initial “burst” through the time continuum. Surrounds are more active, with the yelling of people, the rumble of old cars, and various city nuances shifting around the listening position as Mary makes his way away from Biff. The mix has never been an overly bassy mix, and the Atmos track doesn’t try to artificially boost said bass, but rather keeps it ample, but still not overly hot and powerful. Easily one of the biggest treats this package has to offer, along with the new 4K masters.

Back to the Future Part II:
Back to the Future Part II offers the same improvements to the audio that the first film did, but it has more opportunity for heavy use of said upgrades. The flying cars and hover boards of the future allow for a much more aggressive use of the surrounds and the overheads (especially with the cars), but also a much improved bass line. The bass is MUCH more aggressive and deep, with tons of action-filled moments to truly take advantage of them. For example, listen to the scene where Marty and the Doc break through into the travel lane in the future, or when Biff is trying to gun down Marty in his casino. It’s still the same base track, but the use of the Atmos heights and surrounds allows for a more nimble shifting of sounds from one sound plane to the next, and is EASILY my favorite track of the three.

Back to the Future Part III:
#3 is just as good as the second, as it is a nice uptick from the 5.1 mix. The bass and depth to the mix are quite noticeable off the bat, with Marty leaping into the past, as well as the intense sounds of horses' hooves that come right after. Gunshots ring out with authority, and the roaring sounds of trains, creaks of saddle leather, and sounds of Doc’s crazy inventions come from all angles. Voices are impeccable as always, but it’s really the incredible surround usage that really sells this mix. You can hear everyone around you in the old west bar, and the overheads actually get some moderate usage as well, with the use of the time machines and some arrows whistling by overhead.




Extras:

Back to the Future
• Deleted Scenes
• Tales from the Future: In the Beginning
• Tales from the Future: Time to Go
• Tales from the Future: Keeping Time
• Archival Featurettes
• Michael J. Fox Q&A
• Behind the Scenes
• Music Video: "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News.
• Theatrical Teaser Trailer
• Join Team Fox
• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale.
• Audio Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton.

Back to the Future Part II
• Deleted Scenes
• Tales from the Future: Time Flies
• The Physics of Back to the Future with Dr. Michio Kaku
• Archival Featurettes
• Behind the Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale.
• Audio Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton.


Back to the Future Part 3
• Deleted Scene
• Tales from the Future: Third Time's the Charm
• Tales from the Future: The Test of Time
• Archival Featurettes
• Behind the Scenes
• Music Video "Doubleback" by ZZ Top.
• FAQs About the Trilogy
• Theatrical Trailer
• Back to the Future: The Ride
• Q&A Commentary with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale.
• Audio Commentary with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton.

New Special Features
• 40 Years Later: Reflecting on the Future – Co-writer/producer Bob Gale reflects on the legacy and cultural impact of the films.
• Back to Hill Valley – Join Bob Gale, along with Donald Fullilove (“Mayor Goldie Wilson”), as they revisit and discuss some of the most iconic filming locations.
• Untold Stories of Back to the Future – Journey back in time with crew members as they share their personal stories from the set.
• TCM Classic Film Festival Panel– Bob Gale, cinematographer Dean Cundey, and stunt double Charlie Croughwell reunite at the 40th anniversary premiere.
• A Mystery in History – Discover the rich history of the Gibson guitar Marty McFly plays at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance and hear from the cast as they rally fans to help find the iconic prop that’s been missing for 40 years.









I really loved the 35th anniversary remastered special editions from 5 years ago, and the discs included in this set ARE the same 7 discs that were included in that set. It's just that there's ANOTHER special features disc, and the old cardboard disc sleeves are long gone. Good old black Viva Elite cases for each individual film housed in a cardboard slip box. The transfers remain the same, just the packaging is changed, and the new special features disc. Fans of the series who want to upgrade for the packaging alone will like the new setup, but for other people, the new extras are the only changes on this side outside of the packaging, so an upgrade may be less desirable. But for those who haven't picked up the old 4K set, then this is a no-brainer. More features, more discs, and better packaging. A must buy and the best version released to date by far. For those of you who want even snazzier packaging, there is an Ultimate Edition collector's set, and each of the films has been released in new Steelbook form as well. So lots of choices, and definitely a must-own set.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Thomas F. Wilson, Crispin Glover
Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Written by: Robert Zemeckis, Bog Gale
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 HEVC
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), English DD 2.0, French, Spanish DTS: 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Studio: Universal
Rated: PG
Runtime: 116 minutes / 108 minutes / 118 minutes
Blu-Ray Release Date: October 14th, 2025

Thanks for the review. I remember watching all of the movies at the theater. Enjoyed them all and great movies to have at home.