What is the perfect movie? Citizen Kane, Casablanca, or The Godfather are among the greatest movies of all time, but they are far from perfect. I doubt everyone is interested in a gangster epic or the story of a publishing tycoon. However, the adventures of a charming and charismatic teenager who travels back in time via a DeLorean in Back to the Future can be fun for everyone.
Today, July 3, marks the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future. 35 years ago, Marty McFly went to the year 1955, made his parents fall in love, repaired the DeLorean with Doc Brown, and traveled back to the year 1985 to save the space-time continuum. In other words, it’s a perfect movie.
To be perfect, there are certain criteria that a film must meet.
What Elements Make Up A Perfect Movie?
- Appeals to almost every age range and every type of person
- Elite protagonist
- Easy-to-explain story with minimal plot holes
- Critically and financially successful
- Great beginning, great middle, and a great ending
Does Back to the Future appeal to almost every age range and every type of person? Absolutely. I saw Back to the Future for the first time when I was about 10 or 11 and it blew my mind. It’s so damn enjoyable from start to finish. An 11-year-old boy and a 53-year-old woman can sit down, watch Back to the Future, and accumulate the same levels of enjoyment. It’s as fun for the whole family as it gets.
Does Back to the Future have an elite protagonist? 100%. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly is one of the most iconic protagonists in movie history. Fox is a charming, witty, and most importantly, likable protagonist. People can relate to Marty in so many ways. He’s not tall or buff and he doesn’t fight crime like a superhero. He’s a regular guy who gives off a larger-than-life vibe. Fox perfectly balances the humor with the drama, which is something Eric Stolz failed to do and it’s why Fox replaced him after five weeks of filming. It’s one of the biggest sliding doors moment ever.
Is Back to the Future easy to explain? Does it have minimal plot holes? Yes and yes. The science of time travel is confusing, but the film is able to explain it in such a way that even a kid could understand. It’s like Doc Brown is a walking “Time Travel for Dummies” book. Plus, I personally believe there are little to no plot holes. A few weeks ago, James Gunn called Back to the Future perfect, but he questioned why Lorraine and George did not remember Marty in the year 1985. Bob Gale, one of the film’s screenwriters, answered Gunn’s question by saying, “Bear in mind that George and Lorraine only knew Marty/Calvin for eight days when they were 17, and they did not even see him every one of those eight days.” Without pictures, it would be very difficult to remember what someone looks like from 30 years prior.
Was Back to the Future both critically and financially successful? Are three Academy Award nominations (1 win) and $389 million at the box office enough proof? It’s hard to comprehend an original concept dominating the box office in 2020 with Marvel and Star Wars at every turn. However, Back to the Future, which is based on an original idea and script, was the highest-grossing film of 1985.
Does Back to the Future have a great beginning, great middle, and a great ending? That’s an easy yes to all the above. The beginning scene sets the stage that the film will revolve around time thanks to all of the ticking clocks. The middle follows Marty’s attempt to set George up with Lorraine while simultaneously helping Doc repair the DeLorean and create a plan to return to 1985. The ending is perfect in its own right. From the Enchantment Under The Sea dance to Doc, Marty, and Jennifer flying away, it’s as entertaining of 20+ minute stretch as you’ll ever see.
So I encourage you all to sit down with your families, fire up Back to the Future on Netflix, and bask in its perfection. Remember, where we’re going, we don’t need roads.
Is Back to the Future a perfect movie? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
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