Michael J. Fox was the first choice to play Marty McFly, but he was initially unavailable due to his commitment to the TV show Family Ties.
The filmmakers chose the DeLorean time machine for its futuristic look. Its gull-wing doors made it resemble a spaceship. This detail was key to the plot when Marty arrives in 1955.
The phrase '1.21 gigawatts,' which Doc Brown says is needed to power the DeLorean, became famous even though it was a mispronunciation of 'gigawatts.' The correct pronunciation is 'jigawatts,' but the film's creative team decided to keep it as is.
The 'Back to the Future' trilogy was one of the first film series to be planned as a complete story arc, with the second and third films being shot back-to-back and released less than a year apart.
The idea for the film came from co-writer Bob Gale, who wondered what it would be like to go to school with his parents.
The famous clock tower scene, where lightning strikes to send Marty back to the future, was filmed on the Universal Studios backlot. The set has since become a popular tourist attraction.
Huey Lewis, who wrote and performed the hit song 'The Power of Love' for the film, made a cameo appearance as a teacher who rejects Marty's band during the audition scene.
The role of Doc Brown was written with Christopher Lloyd in mind, and he based his portrayal of the eccentric inventor on Albert Einstein and conductor Leopold Stokowski.
The filmmakers originally considered using a refrigerator as the time machine, but they changed it to the DeLorean to avoid encouraging children to climb into refrigerators.
In 'Back to the Future Part II,' the futuristic year 2015 features hoverboards, flying cars, and self-lacing shoes. While these technologies are still in development, the film's vision of the future remains iconic.
The Johnny B. Goode scene, where Marty plays the guitar at the school dance, was filmed with Michael J. Fox learning to mimic the guitar playing, but the actual music was performed by musician Mark Campbell.
The 'Back to the Future' trilogy has influenced many other films and TV shows, with numerous references and homages appearing in popular culture over the years.
Crispin Glover, who played George McFly in the first film, did not return for the sequels due to a dispute over his salary. The filmmakers used old footage and a look-alike actor to portray George in the later films.
The series' memorable catchphrase 'Great Scott!' was improvised by Christopher Lloyd and became a trademark of the Doc Brown character.
The 'Back to the Future' trilogy was preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
