Back to the Future Part II

Name: Back to the Future Part II
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Released: November 22, 1989
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Michael J. Fox

1989

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Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Universal acclaim based on 466 Ratings

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8.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 466 Ratings

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Back To The Future, Part 2

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: November 22, 1989 | PG

Starring: Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Michael J. Fox

Summary: After visiting 2015, Marty McFly must return to 1955 to prevent disastrous changes to his life in 1985.

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel

It twists it, shakes it and stands it on its ear. But as before, the film's technical brilliance is the least of its appeals. Satirically acute, intricately structured and deftly paced, it is at heart stout, good and untainted by easy sentiment.

Janet Maslin

Back to the Future deserved a chance to come back, especially under the cheerful, enterprising, mathematically minded stewardship of Mr. Zemeckis and Mr. Gale. Their new film isn't an ordinary sequel. It's as if the earlier film had been squared. Read full review

David Ansen

Director Robert Zemeckis and writer Bob Gale assume you've seen the original and are ready to swallow whatever zany time-travel notion they offer. They're not wrong. As unapologetically broad and silly as this sequel it, it's also a good deal of fun, and its relentless velocity is part of the joke. [4 Dec. 1989, p.78]

Desmond Ryan

Fans of the original should relish going back to Back to the Future, as long as they keep in mind that in movies - as in life - you can't go home again. And if you do, things aren't likely to be the same. [22 Nov 1989, p.E1]

Dave Kehr

A movie that must spend most of its running time explaining its hopelessly complicated premises, which leaves very little room for anything much to happen. [22 Nov 1989, p.C1]

Desson Thomson

Future II bombards you with more brand-name advertising than three hours of prime-time TV could muster, although repeat filmmakers Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis put a humorous twist on everything. Read full review

Jay Scott

Given Part II's quality, the final sequence, a series of clips from next summer's Part III, may be a major miscalculation. "To be concluded," reads the final title. Sounds more like a threat than a promise. [22 Nov 1989, p.C9]

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User Reviews

InverseCritic

Oct 4, 2013

This is my favourite chapter in the trilogy. The original is still like listening to a rock song in 1955, but the second one is like having a time machine to yourself while you watch it. It's smart, takes many different turns, and it didn't confuse me. I don't see why people say it's confusing.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

Duke_Nukem

Oct 19, 2015

Back to the Future Part II is just as good as the first one, and the Back to the Future movies make one of my favorite movie series of all time. (the third one is not as good as the others though)

It's 2015 now and it's very funny to see how the writers of Back to the Future Part IIBack to the Future Part II is just as good as the first one, and the Back to the Future movies make one of my favorite movie series of all time. (the third one is not as good as the others though)

It's 2015 now and it's very funny to see how the writers of Back to the Future Part II imagined 2015. Of course it's a far way from actual life in our time, but which sci fi movie ever saw the future correctly?

They did a nice job by starting this second movie where the first left of, which makes for a nice continuation of the story.

Marty and doc are still wonderfully portrayed by Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. Jennifer has become less attractive which is a shame, I liked the first actress more.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DibbHansen

Jul 18, 2013

This film is another great one, using visual and story creativity that made the first film such a hit. Although the story is not as strong, the film still manages to entertain in almost every way with a great cast once again (only missing Marty's father's comedy genius). The film is stillThis film is another great one, using visual and story creativity that made the first film such a hit. Although the story is not as strong, the film still manages to entertain in almost every way with a great cast once again (only missing Marty's father's comedy genius). The film is still a great sequel as most sequels disappoint, this one does not.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

flylex

May 29, 2017

The film starts from the point where the previous one ends, the doctor asks Martin and jheniffer to help him to prevent them from being arrested because of this simple premise, there are several facts that will fiddle with the future and past, like a famous and corrupt version of Biff 1985.The film starts from the point where the previous one ends, the doctor asks Martin and jheniffer to help him to prevent them from being arrested because of this simple premise, there are several facts that will fiddle with the future and past, like a famous and corrupt version of Biff 1985. To fix these events they will have to go back and review the events of the first film for another perspective, the film knows how to play very well with the elements of a supposed future such as the haveboard, nike sneakers that tie themselves, The problem here is to use a simple premise to introduce what really matters in the 1985 frame that is governed by Biff, this version of the past is bleak and looks dirty, in that part the Movie loses a little comic tone and becomes much more serious, with marty trying to deal with the changes of the world and his familia.to fix this situation they return to the events of the first film in what is d Eve the best part of the movie, it is very interesting to see the events of the first film from another angle, but the movie has some problems anyway and did not surpass the first the performances are as good as the first movie and the CGI was right Advance, is a good plot with a story that amuses and charismatic characters.note 84… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

drlowdon

Dec 26, 2020

Continuing from where the original movie finished, Dr. Emmett Brown persuades Marty McFly and his girlfriend to travel to the future with him and help their future children. When Biff Tannen witnesses their departure and uses knowledge of the future to help himself, Marty must work to setContinuing from where the original movie finished, Dr. Emmett Brown persuades Marty McFly and his girlfriend to travel to the future with him and help their future children. When Biff Tannen witnesses their departure and uses knowledge of the future to help himself, Marty must work to set everything back to the way it was.

Upon release Back to the Future Part 2 received a mixed reception from critics, but while it’s not quite as good as the original, it is now widely considered one of the best movie sequels ever made once again capturing the charm and humour that makes this franchise so much fun to watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FilipeNeto

Nov 17, 2019

An honorable and high quality continuation.

This is the second film of what was one of the most remarkable trilogies of the 1980s. In the first movie, Marty McFly and "Doc" Emmett Brown traveled until the 1950s, until Marty's parents' dating years, using a time machine built from aAn honorable and high quality continuation.

This is the second film of what was one of the most remarkable trilogies of the 1980s. In the first movie, Marty McFly and "Doc" Emmett Brown traveled until the 1950s, until Marty's parents' dating years, using a time machine built from a DeLorean. Now, the pair will need to go to the future in 2015 to prevent Marty and Jenniffer's children from becoming delinquents and dragging the entire family to the bottom. But in the midst of it all, they still have to stop the perfidious Biff Tannen from making a fortune at the expense of inside information about future sporting results. To correct the future and save the present, therefore, it will be necessary to intervene in the past, and return to 1955.

The film is clearly the continuation of its predecessor and has direct connection with it. The mix of sci fi and comedy continues to succeed but it does not prevent the feeling that this movie is, in essence, more of the same as we saw before. If we forget that brief foray into the future (which for me is already a distant past, as I write this text a few years after 2015), the film is nothing really new. At any rate, it's funny to see how, in the 1980s, someone imagined our time. Flying cars? If they only knew that we were more concerned with greening cars than flying them ... But of course, nothing should be taken too seriously here. Speaking of ecology, the film suggests in one scene that DeLorean replaced the use of plutonium with organic debris and rubbish, perhaps using an original type of composter. Curious to check this out.

There is little to say about the direction of Robert Zemeckis, or even about the cast, that has not been said or observed in the previous film. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd continue to dominate the film, which will be a constant throughout the trilogy. In this movie, however, the stakes of Thomas F. Wilson, an excellent villain, and Elisabeth Shue, who gain, despite their preponderance, still fall relatively sidelined for much of the movie, literally falling asleep.

Special effects, visuals and sound are inseparable and important part of any sci-fi movie and here they work quite well. I thought the future was quite interesting, with ultra-modern cars and some crazy ideas, but as I said, it's not something we should take too seriously. It also struck me as interesting to see the same actor playing two versions of himself, although it was clear how this was achieved by splitting the screen.

It's understandable why the movie, like the whole trilogy, became so popular. Despite being weaker than the first film, it retained its features well and honored its predecessor, leaving clear signs of a continuation. The trilogy as a whole has aged very well and still has class, charm and style, which cannot be said of all films made in the 1980s.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Sep 11, 2019

There a lack of heart and charm that the first one had in spades. A lot of stupid plot points (such as Marty hating being called chicken to the point where it ruins his life) and I felt that they relied too much on just rehashing everything from the first film rather than being it's ownThere a lack of heart and charm that the first one had in spades. A lot of stupid plot points (such as Marty hating being called chicken to the point where it ruins his life) and I felt that they relied too much on just rehashing everything from the first film rather than being it's own original adventure.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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