---
title: "Back to the Future Part II"
year: 1989
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii"
fi1m_id: "back-to-the-future-part-ii"
imdb_id: "tt0096874"
tmdb_id: 165
wikidata_id: "Q109331"
fi1m_score: 74
critics_score: 65
critics_reviews: 10
published: "2026-10-04T20:53:11.889150+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-04T20:53:19.988111+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 1h 48m · MPA PG · Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction

## Identity

Back to the Future Part II

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** back-to-the-future-part-ii
- **IMDb ID:** tt0096874
- **TMDB ID:** 165
- **Wikidata ID:** Q109331
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096874/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/165, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109331

**Fi1m score: 74** · Critics 65 from 10 reviews

*In a sentence:* The hoverboard looks easier to operate than the plot

> Inventive and funny, *Back to the Future Part II* is worth the effort of following its crowded plot. The visual jokes and lively cast compensate for hurried storytelling, though the time-travel explanations can become hard work.

## Synopsis

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doctor Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) land in 2015. Hill Valley’s future includes hoverboards and *Jaws 19*, and Marty soon gets caught up in a hoverboard chase. Jennifer (Elisabeth Shue) is also part of the adventure, alongside Biff Tannen and Griff, both played by Thomas F. Wilson. Michael J. Fox takes on the roles of Marty McFly Junior and Marlene McFly as well, in a time-travelling story that puts different generations and ages on screen together.

## Review

Robert Zemeckis makes *Back to the Future Part II* a brisk, inventive time-travel comedy with less room for affection than its cast deserves. We recommend it for the visual jokes and the pleasure of watching a complicated plot being kept in motion. There is real enjoyment in the way one problem requires another explanation, then another hurried journey. But the film is so keen to reach its next clever complication that it often hurries past the people dealing with it.

The visit to 2015 gives production designer Rick Carter plenty to work with, and his crowded future is worth a good look. Hoverboards and *Jaws 19* are the sort of details that make its excess enjoyable. We laughed at *Jaws 19*, because the suggestion that familiar entertainment will keep getting recycled seems entirely reasonable. His Hill Valley has enough going on to hold our attention without another plot complication, particularly when the visual jokes are given time to register.

Dean Cundey’s cinematography is especially useful during the hoverboard chase, giving the movement enough clarity for the comedy to work. We can enjoy the absurdity of the vehicle without losing track of the pursuit. Editors Harry Keramidas and Arthur Schmidt keep the action brisk while allowing the visual comedy enough time to be understood. This is where the pace works: a chase can keep supplying fresh obstacles without needing to explain the rules of time travel.

Michael J. Fox gives Marty McFly the quick reactions the film needs, keeping him recognisably human through all the rushing about. Christopher Lloyd, as Doctor Emmett Brown, makes the explanations feel urgent even when they need a moment to sink in. We remain glad of their company when the plot gets crowded. Thomas F. Wilson plays Biff Tannen and Griff with an aggression that is often funny, though the broadness can become wearing.

Bob Gale’s screenplay has more difficulty giving anyone time to feel the consequences of all this activity. Each new complication is interesting enough on its own, but the accumulation starts to turn conversations into instructions. We are asked to follow closely, then hurried along before the implications can settle. That is a particular loss for a time-travel comedy, where the fun depends on having enough time to appreciate what has changed and why it matters to somebody.

Alan Silvestri’s music gives the hoverboard chase an extra push, making the speed and silliness feel equally important. It also helps carry us through the denser stretches of plot, which might otherwise sound like lengthy briefings. The score sometimes urges excitement a little too insistently when the scene is already busy. But it keeps a sense of adventure alive while the dialogue is attending to the rules.

At 108 minutes, it is not a long film, but it asks for more concentration than its cheery manner initially suggests. Anyone drawn to time travel for its practical complications should find plenty to enjoy. We would save it for an evening when keeping up sounds like part of the fun.

*Fi1m score 74, published 4 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean towards qualified approval of Back to the Future Part II, with praise clustering around its visual invention, pace and production design. Several critics find enough humour and excitement to enjoy the sequel despite its complications, while the performances provide another source of warmth. Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd’s screen presence earns particular praise, as does the cast’s enjoyment of playing multiple roles.

The main division concerns whether the time-travel plotting is satisfyingly intricate or simply overstuffed. Empire admires its connected narrative and energetic direction, while Little White Lies finds the storytelling disjointed and confusing even as it enjoys the spectacle. Reservations repeatedly concern diminished charm and mechanics crowding out the characters, though the spread runs from affectionate enthusiasm to outright disappointment. Variety is the clearest detractor, arguing that effects and plot machinery displace the original’s energy and heart.

## Straight answers

**Is Back to the Future Part II worth watching?**

*Back to the Future Part II* is worth watching for its visual jokes, lively cast and inventive time-travel complications; we score it 74 out of 100. The crowded plot leaves less room for affection and sometimes turns dialogue into instructions, so we recommend it for an evening when keeping up sounds like part of the fun.

**How long is Back to the Future Part II, and what is it rated?**

*Back to the Future Part II* runs 1h 48m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an adventure and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Back to the Future Part II in the US?**

*Back to the Future Part II* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Back to the Future Part II compare to Back to the Future?**

*Back to the Future Part II* is busier and less warm than [*Back to the Future*](https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future), which we recommend more strongly for its exact plotting and performances that make the cleverness feel easy. The sequel offers plenty of visual comedy and more time-travel complications, but it suits viewers who enjoy following explanations rather than those chiefly drawn to the characters.

**What should I watch after Back to the Future Part II?**

After *Back to the Future Part II*, try [*Time Bandits*](https://film.one/film/time-bandits) (1981, Fi1m 80): Another time-travelling adventure whose busy imagination leaves adult good sense far behind. Then [*Run Lola Run*](https://film.one/film/run-lola-run) (1998, Fi1m 82): For more frantic movement, altered possibilities and precise editing that keeps everything legible.

### Reviews we read (10)

- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/4/3): Jenkins finds the sequel imperfect but lovable, while arguing that its narrative is disjointed and confusing. He praises its razzle-dazzle production design and suggests the film works especially well in bite-sized chunks. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/back-to-the-future-part-ii)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (3/4): The review text is unavailable, so its verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. The page only displays a browser-check message. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/back-to-the-future-part-ii-1989)
- **Empire**, Tom Tunney (70/100, inferred): Tunney finds it solidly entertaining, though less satisfying than the first and third films and largely a bridge between them. He praises its energetic direction and slickly connected time-travel plot, while noting its relentless pace leaves little room to reflect on the story’s absurdities. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/back-future-part-ii-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Sheila Benson (68/100, inferred): Benson finds the sequel a lively improvement, though its noisy time-hopping and tacky ending diminish the charm. She praises its inventive visual gags and the appealing screen presence of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-movie-review-future-ii-back-to-the-bank-20151007-story.html)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (64/100, inferred): The page could not be read, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. Its specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/22/movies/review-film-a-sequel-of-sequence-and-consequence.html)
- **Time Out**, GA (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a film review, but its accessible text contains no critical verdict. The available description only outlines the plot and offers no discernible praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/back-to-the-future-part-ii)
- **Slant Magazine**, Eric Henderson (2.5/4): Henderson views the sequel as a cluttered, vulgar debasement of the original’s charms. He praises its depiction of media’s growing omnipresence and its effects on human existence. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii/)
- **Radio Times**, John Ferguson (3/5): Ferguson finds the sequel overstuffed, with its script too clever for its own good. He praises the improved special effects and the actors’ enjoyment of their many roles. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-yed3pk/back-to-the-future-part-ii/)
- **Variety**, Variety Staff (35/100, inferred): The review finds the sequel less successful than the original, with its energy and heart displaced by mechanics and visual effects. It singles out the cheesy makeup and strained credibility caused by characters interacting at different ages. [Read](https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/back-to-the-future-part-ii-1200428065/)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the sequel entertaining and says it retains the original’s humour, excitement and pleasure. He praises its inventiveness and pace, while noting it is less perfectly formed than the first film. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/back-to-the-future-part-ii-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Robert Zemeckis
- **Director:** Robert Zemeckis
- **Screenplay:** Bob Gale
- **Story:** Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
- **Cinematography:** Dean Cundey
- **Editor:** Harry Keramidas, Arthur Schmidt
- **Music:** Alan Silvestri
- **Production design:** Rick Carter
- **Costume design:** Joanna Johnston
- **Producer:** Bob Gale, Neil Canton
- **Cast:** Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly / Marty McFly Junior / Marlene McFly; Christopher Lloyd as Doctor Emmett Brown; Lea Thompson as Lorraine; Thomas F. Wilson as Biff Tannen / Griff; Elisabeth Shue as Jennifer; James Tolkan as Strickland; Jeffrey Weissman as George McFly; Casey Siemaszko as 3-D
- **Runtime:** 1h 48m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 22 November 1989
- **Genres:** Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
- **Part of:** [Back to the Future](https://film.one/collections/back-to-the-future.md) · 2 of 2
- **Budget:** $40 million
- **Box office:** $333 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r-Ud7H2cLw

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-10-04.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, HU, IE, IN, IS, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, TR, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Saturn Awards 1991: Best Costume (nominated)
- Academy Awards 1990: Best Visual Effects (nominated)
- BAFTA Film Awards 1990: Best Special Visual Effects (won)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 1990: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Time Bandits* (1981), Fi1m 80: Another time-travelling adventure whose busy imagination leaves adult good sense far behind. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/time-bandits.md)
- *The Girl Who Leapt Through Time* (2006): A gentler time-travel story that gives its consequences more room to hurt.
- *Run Lola Run* (1998), Fi1m 82: For more frantic movement, altered possibilities and precise editing that keeps everything legible. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/run-lola-run.md)
- *Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes* (2020): A small-scale time puzzle with playful complications and a welcome lack of fuss.
- *Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure* (1989): Time travel with fewer instructions, warmer company and considerably less concern for homework.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/back-to-the-future-part-ii