Back to the Future: Time travel trilogy with cult status

A DeLorean, a crazy scientist and a teenager who messes up the space-time continuum – it doesn’t get more 80s than that.

In part two he leads him Travel back in time to 2015where a harmless sports almanac ruins his family’s future.

In the third part, Marty and Doc finally end up in 1885 – a world full of Cowboys, steam trains and duelswhich is literally about survival.

In the first part of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel to the 1950s. (Image: RTL/Universal)

Why the films still have cult status today

“Back to the Future” is much more than a science fiction adventure – it is a Zeitgeist phenomenon. In the mid-80s, director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Bob Gale struck a chord with a generation that oscillated between technological euphoria and nostalgia. The film brought together humor, heart and handmade effects long before computer graphics dominated cinema.

The characters became archetypes of modern pop cinema: Marty McFly as a teenage rebel with skateboard and electric guitar, Doc Brown as a brilliant, mad scientist. Their interaction, carried by Michael J. Fox’s charm and Christopher Lloyd’s inimitable energy, made the duo immortal. The DeLorean became a symbol of the longing for control over one’s own time – a fantasy that still works today.

There is also a soundtrack that is not available in any 80er-Playlist may be missing. “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News became the catchy tune of an era, and Alan Silvestri’s iconic film score still gives you goosebumps today. The interplay of humor, tension and emotion made “Back to the Future” a film that you not only see, but experience.

In “Back to the Future II” Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel into the future – the year 2015. (Image: RTL/ NBC Universal)

Fun facts & anecdotes

• Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly – but was replaced during filming because he played the role too seriously. Michael J. Fox accepted the role without reading the script.
• The iconic song „Johnny B. Goode“ von Chuck Berry was originally almost canceled because Zemeckis felt it didn’t fit into the plot.
• The famous one Hill-Valley-Uhrturm still stands on the Universal Studio lot today – and has been reused in countless other films.
• The word „Fluxkompensator“ (“flux capacitor”) was invented specifically for the film – it technically means nothing, but it sounds brilliant.
• A total of of the DeLoreans built – one of which was only intended for stunts and was actually damaged during filming. The DeLorean was chosen because of its gullwing doors – it looked futuristic enough to be a time machine.

Why October 26th is so special

October 26th plays a crucial role in film history: Marty McFly’s legendary journey through time begins on this date. On the night of October 25th to 26th, 1985, Doc Brown tested his time machine for the first time – the DeLorean with a flux compensator. The first time jump occurs exactly at 1:20 a.m. when Einstein the dog travels into the future for a minute. Later, Marty himself is thrown into the 1950s on this exact date – changing his life forever.

In the third part of the cult trilogy, Marty McFly and Doc Brown end up in the Wild West. (Photo: RTL/Universal)

Missed it? No problem

If you miss the TV marathon, you can of course also stream the films. The complete trilogy is available on multiple platforms – ideal for anyone who wants to relive or discover the charm of the 80s for the first time.

You can stream the first film here:*

You can watch part 2 here:*

The third film is available here:*

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When and where is it running?

RTL will show all three films in the “Back to the Future” series on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 11:10 a.m. An ideal date for a nostalgic Sunday with flux compensator, rock’n’roll and lots of film history.