Back in Time
An affectionate documentary tracing how Back to the Future became a lasting cultural touchstone for filmmakers, performers, and generations of devoted fans.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- affectionate
- nostalgic
- playful
- nostalgia night
- movie marathon companion
What critics said
Critics broadly found it an enjoyable, well-crafted, and affectionate exploration of Back to the Future’s enduring cultural impact, despite a tangential hover-technology segment.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The documentary focuses on how Back to the Future shaped culture and continued to matter to audiences beyond its production.
Its extensive footage and interviews present the vastness of the trilogy’s fandom, including fans encountered during the two-year production.
Interviews with Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg, cast members, and other collaborators look back at the trilogy’s making and legacy.
Critical reception repeatedly describes the documentary as enjoyable, delightful, and an affectionate return to a beloved story.
Films like Back in Time, and why
The Last Blockbuster
affectionate film-history documentary centered on the cultural legacy of a beloved blockbuster franchise
Spielberg
archival and interview-driven exploration of filmmaking history and fan culture
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
nostalgic documentary portrait of a major popular-culture phenomenon and its enduring audience
Movie Details
- Director
- Jason Aron
- Release Date
- 2015-10-20
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (319)
Cast
- Michael J. Fox
- Lea Thompson
- Christopher Lloyd
- Robert Zemeckis
- Alan Silvestri
- Bob Gale
- Claudia Wells
- Dean Cundey
- Donald Fullilove
- Frank Price
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Back in Time about?
- An affectionate documentary tracing how Back to the Future became a lasting cultural touchstone for filmmakers, performers, and generations of devoted fans.
- What is Back in Time like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Back in Time as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Back in Time violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Back in Time.
- What did critics think of Back in Time?
- Critics broadly found it an enjoyable, well-crafted, and affectionate exploration of Back to the Future’s enduring cultural impact, despite a tangential hover-technology segment.
- Which films are like Back in Time?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Blockbuster, Spielberg, and Won’t You Be My Neighbor?.
- How long is Back in Time?
- Back in Time runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch Back in Time?
- In United States, Back in Time streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
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