Summary
TheBack to the Futurefilms are jam-packed with references to movies of the past. In the 1980s, some audiences may have caught these details, but today, most viewers would probably miss them and consider them to be outdated. These could be things spotted in the background, props, parts of the story, actors, andEaster eggs. The creators of the franchise truly made every creative decision with careful consideration and meaning behind it.
The first film was released in 1985, and was a major hit among audiences and critics, making it a staple in both films of the 1980s and the entire sci-fi genre. The references listed coverfilms all the way back to the 1920sup through the ’80s, which only further attests to the director, Robert Zemeckis' passion for film and his knowledge and appreciation of its history.
10 Fun, Feel-Good Sci-Fi Movies Like Back to the Future
While Back to the Future was one of the most unique and enduring sci-fi movies, several other films captured its feel-good energy and style.
10Western Actors
Three Veteran Western Actors are Featured In A Bar Scene
Back to the Future Part IIIis possibly the most fun film of the trilogy, as it follows a Western theme. It follows Marty, who ends up stranded in the Wild West of 1885. A bar scene in the film references veteran Western actors. In the scene, we see three men named Levi, Zeke, and Jeb seated at a table together in the background of the bar Marty McFly is at. Upon viewing without the knowledge of who they are, audiences would look over this quick detail, but in fact these actors are icons of the Western genre.
The actors featured areDub Taylor, Harry Carey Jr., and Pat B.These actors are known from films likeBonnie and Clyde(1967),The Searchers(1956), andWild in the Country(1961). It’s so enjoyable to see actors like this, who usually stick to the Western genre, venture out and have fun in other films, even if they’re sci-fi.
9The ‘Safety Last!’ Clock
A Reference To The 1920s Film, Safety Last!
At the beginning of the firstBack to the Futurefilm, very fittingly, we see a variety of different clocks. This was one of many great scenes and opportunities for director Robert Zemeckis to sneak in references and Easter eggs that both tell us what will happen later in the film, and show appreciation for films of the past that inspired him in the creation of this one. All of this is wrapped together in a perfect scene that perfectly captures the overall theme of the films: Time.
On one clock in particular, we can spot a small cutout of a man hanging from one of the hands.This is actuallyHarold Lloyd from the 1923 filmSafety Last!The silent film tells the story of a store clerk, Harold, who creates a climbing contest on a tall building, and he climbs it himself, where he ends up hanging from a clock. This is referenced later in the film, where Doc hangs from the clock in the town square.
8Kit Kat Clocks
A 1950s Kitchen Staple
Kit Kat Clocks may or may not be something seen before in older films or catalogs. In the first scene, which pictures a variety of clocks, we can spot a Kit Kat clock.This animated clock shaped like a cat could be a reference to the 1950s, when Marty McFly ends up traveling back in time to his parents' house.
7Star Trek
“Darth Vader From Planet Vulcan”
In one particularly hilarious scene from the firstBack to the Futurefilm, we see Marty McFly in a yellow hazmat suit wielding a hair dryer, wake up and scare the younger version of his father, George McFly. Marty claims that he is Darth Vader, a reference obvious to most ofStar Wars, and also that he is from the planet Vulcan. He is there to make George agree to take his mother, Lorraine, to the school dance that weekend.
Planet Vulcan is a reference toStar Trek. Marty used things from the 1980s that he was aware of, because people of the 1950s wouldn’t have heard of them before. He also hilariously plays a Van Halen tape to wake him up.
6The Time Travelers
The 1964 filmThe Time Travelers,directed by Ib Melchior, tells a similar story of experimenting with time warps and the future. Just like the beginning ofBack to the Future, this film actually also opens to images of various types of clocks. This reference made by the director is even further cemented by a billboard that can be spotted in the town square. It reads,“Time to Travel? Ask Mr. Foster Travel Service.“The reference here is in the text ‘Mr. Foster’. The leading actor of The Time Travelers is named Preston Foster.
52001: A Space Odyssey
CRM 114
2001: A Space Odysseyis an early reference inBack to the Futureand is a super easy one to miss. In this iconic scene where we first meet Marty McFly, played by the amazing Michael J. Fox, he plugs his guitar into Doc’s amp and is blown away by the speakers. For a split second, we get a glimpse of a little red label above the plug that reads “CRM 114”.
The incredible sci-fi staple by Stanley Kubrick,2001: A Space Odyssey, was released in 1968.CRM 114 was the serial number of the Jupiter Explorerin the film.A Space Odysseychanged sci-fi forever and still impressively stands the test of time, making it a great reference to include in the film.
4Time After Time
November 5, 10:15 AM
Another film referenced in numbers hidden in aBack to the Futurescene isTime After Time, released in 1979 and directed by Nicholas Meyer. This film also includes elements of time travel. It tells the story of the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper, who steals a time machine to escape the 19th century.
The reference here is the date that Doc sets in the time machine with Marty. He sets it for November 5 at 10:15 A.M., which isthe same one set by H.G. Wells,the writer and main character ofTime After Time. This makes for a very fitting reference.
3The Time Machine
A Familiar Sound Plays When Marty Enters Doc’s Lab
Yet another reference that takes place at the beginning of the film comes from the 1960 filmThe Time Machine, directed by George Pal. We can catch this reference as Marty is entering Doc’s lab.
Instead of creating a reference in the form of a set piece, actor, or prop, this one actually comes from the music. The sound of rapid piano keys can be heard in the scene.This is the same background music played inThe Time Machine. This is another example of every single element and the smallest of details being considered by the creative team.
2Mr. Peabody & Sherman
The WABAC Machine
There are multiple references to the 1960s animated show,The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show.This clever cartoon features Sherman and Peabody, who are late-night TV show hosts who bring on special guests from events throughout history by using Mr. Peabody’s Time Machine, called the WABAC Machine.
The Time Machine inBack to the Futureis the DeLorean, created from a retrofitted DMC DeLorean, which they use to travel both into the past and the future.This wasinspired by the WABAC Machine. Another reference to the cartoon is that there are two characters in the film named Peabody and Sherman, which, of course, is a very direct reference.
1The Twilight Zone
The Hill Valley Telegraph References The Classic Sci-Fi Show
Another reference that is pretty hidden and easy to miss is on the cover of a newspaper inBack to the Future.This comes from an episode ofThe Twilight Zonecalled “To Serve Man” from 1962. This can be seen on the front page of theHill Valley Telegraphon June 28, 2025. One story that can be seen is titled “State Backs Tax Resale in Creek County”, which appeared in theThe Twilight Zoneepisode under the headline “Kanamits Offer Peace and Prosperity.”
Even the smallest of details, like this one inBack To The Future, proves a creative team’s passion for the story and what they do. It’s an extra step that goes above and beyond just for the love of film and sci-fi, which is truly something to appreciate.
Back to the Future
Cast
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
