While we movie fans owe Robert Zemeckis thanks for plenty of classics, like Romancing the Stone (1984), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), and Forrest Gump (1994), perhaps his most important contribution to pop culture came in the form of a high school boy and an eccentric scientist. In 1985, Back to the Future changed the cinematic landscape for the better by bringing sci-fi into the mainstream (remember Star Wars was still for nerds then) with some of the finest visual effects of the time.
The first movie's cliffhanger ending resulted in two more sequels, and unlike some trilogies, each film is pretty perfect. Whether you're looking to watch the trilogy for the first time or just want another hit of nostalgia for the hundredth, here's how to watch the Back to the Future movies in order. Find them all on streamers like Prime Video, AMC+, and more to follow the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown in their completion.
Back to the Future (1985)
If you're looking for the ultimate sci-fi adventure movie, Back to the Future is your ticket. From references in Stranger Things (2016) to the entire premise of Rick and Morty (2013), Robert Zemeckis's magnum opus continues to influence pop culture. Following Marty McFly's (Michael J. Fox) trip back in time thanks to Doc Brown's (Christopher Lloyd) time-traveling DeLorean, the movie finds the perfect balance between memorable, emotional storytelling and comedy.
A large part of Back to the Future's charm comes from Fox and Lloyd, who exude an unreplicable charisma and chemistry that carries throughout the rest of the trilogy. Personally, I consider Back to the Future a perfect movie, right alongside Jaws (1975) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). If you want to watch the entire trilogy, you need to start here, considering it sets up the characters and basic time-travel logistics that continue to play a role in the larger story.
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Picking up directly after Back to the Future, Back to the Future Part II makes good on Doc coercing Marty to go "back to the future." Together, they travel to 2015, with Jennifer (now played by Elisabeth Shue), to deal with a new threat created by their children. As all good time-travel movies prove, messing with the order of things is never a good idea, which turns Back to the Future Part II into a proper time-hopping affair in an attempt to course-correct ongoing mishaps.
As far as sequels go, Back to the Future Part II ranks among the best. While it doesn't quite match the sheer power of the original movie, it upholds the series' dedication to zany sci-fi tropes and madcap humor. If you like Rick and Morty, this installment feels the most similar since our protagonists do a lot of on-the-fly problem-solving with a healthy dose of meta-commentary attached.
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
The Back to the Future trilogy is solid all around. However, Back to the Future Part III might be the most divisive movie of the lot. If you already love the first two movies, there's no sense in stopping now, especially because Back to the Future Part II leaves us on a pretty big cliffhanger with Marty and Doc stranded in separate timelines. Back to the Future Part III picks up there, with Marty using the DeLorean to travel to 1885 to rescue Doc. If the Old West setting already sounds like a blast, then you'll love this movie.
For some, the setting shift might be a bit jarring, but Back to the Future Part III still carries the trilogy's trademark humor, sci-fi, and meta-comedy to rope fans in. Consider it more of a peer to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) or the more goofy Blazing Saddles (1974) than traditional sci-fi fare. Regardless of whether you like Westerns or not, Back to the Future Part III provides a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy's story that gives Doc and Marty the proper development and closure they needed. You won't be disappointed if you stick it out.
