Summary
One of the greatest film trilogies of all time, theBack to the Futuretrilogy, has returned to Netflix and I couldn’t be more excited about it. The trilogy is an oft-used format for a film series, having graced both mainstreamfranchises likeThe Planet of the ApesandSpider-Man, as well as arthouse films such as Richard Linklater’sBeforetrilogy or theThree Colorsfilms. Tracing characters over a three-film arc is often a great way to devote time to a story without a franchise overstaying its welcome.
Generally speaking, I findgreat movie trilogieshard to come by. While the scale of the storytelling of something likeThe Lord of the Ringsis certainly impressive, nothing is worse than moments like the outstandingSpider-Man 2being followed up by the goofy, wildly disappointingSpider-Man 3. As inconsistent as many trilogies can be, I was excited to learn thatone of the greatest trilogies is now coming to Netflix.
Rotten Tomatoes Confirms What The Best Movie Trilogy Of All-Time Really Is
Rotten Tomatoes has produced a definitive ranking of the best movies of all time, revealing the best trilogy ever made in the process.
All Three Back To The Future Movies Are Now Back On Netflix
You Can Watch Back To The Future Now On The Platform
That trilogy isBack to the Future. As of July 1,all three of theBack to the Futurefilms are available to stream on Netflix.This includes 1985’sBack to the Futureas well asBack to the Future Part II(1989) andBack to the Future Part III(1990). As the original film turns 40 this year, I’m excited to revisit the franchise.
This 40th anniversary tie-in may helpBack to the Futureget views as it comes to Netflix. This week, it will have to compete withBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the Eddie Murphy action-comedy sequel that hit the platform on Wednesday. As much as I love Marty McFly, I admit that the long-awaitedBeverly Hills Copsequel may outpace the viewership of those re-watchingBack to the Future. Still, Netflix availability is great for the franchise.
Why Back To The Future Is One Of The Best Movie Trilogies Of All Time
Back To The Future Maintains A High Quality
As I mentioned earlier, the art of the trilogy is hard to master. Overcoming this challenge, theBack to the Futuretrilogymaintains its entertainment value throughout the series, making it one of the greatest trilogies of all time. The critical consensus endorses this statement, asall threeBack to the Futuremovies have fresh scores on Rotten Tomatoes.This includes a 93% for the first movie, a 63% for the second, and an 81% forBack to the Future Part III.
Back to the Future(1985)
93%
95%
63%
85%
81%
78%
While there are multiple individually iconic aspects of theBack to the Futuremovies — such as the DeLorean or the “Johnny B. Goode” performance —part of what keeps the movies fresh is the vastly different timelines they cover.The firstBack to the Futuremovie catapults Marty back 30 years, to 1955, while the second puts him in 2015. Seeing these different eras, including the “future” timeline that has since passed, keeps theBack to the Futurefilms fresh as the trilogy manages to artfully expand on a relatively simple concept.
Another reason I love theBack to the Futurefilms is because of the leadperformance from Michael J. Fox. While he has several other great roles,Marty McFly is my personal favorite from Fox.His youthful charisma bleeds off the screen in each one of the trilogy’s films, bringing energy whether it be to a sloppy romance or guitar solo. Fox keeps theBack to the Futurefilms great, and it will be so fun to re-explore this performance on a Netflix deep dive.
Which Back To The Future Movie Is The Best One?
You Can’t Beat the First Back to the Future
As iconic as the entireBack to the Futuretrilogy is, nothing can top the first film in quality. The firstBack to the Futurehas the best scenes in the franchise, and benefits from the novelty of getting to introduce the idiosyncratic characters such as Marty andDoc Brown. Not only isBack to the Futurethe best in the franchise, butI would argue that it is Zemeckis’ best work as a director(my apologies to die-hardForrest Gumpfans… but can “Run Forrest Run?” really beat “Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here”?).
Even though I find the firstBack to the Futurethe most appealing in the franchise, I’m thrilled about them all being on Netflix. RewatchingBack to the Futurewill also be a great way to appreciateZemeckis’ best moviesbefore the release of his upcoming filmHere, which is a family drama starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. Whether drawn in by Fox’s incredible performance or the esthetics of the ‘80s,Back to the Futureis an audience favorite that will hopefully succeed on its new streaming home.
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.
